Northern France, Brittany & Carnac

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The Carnac area of Northern France is an epicentre of megalithic monuments, with whole fields covered with arranged standing stones and chambered tombs with rock carvings, still surviving after thousands of years. In Brittany we will also find the Enchanted Forest of Broceliande, the home of the French Arthurian legend, with areas also associated with Morgan le Faite and the magician Merlin, whose marked grave lyes in the forest. Other visits include the tallest Dolmen in Europe near the town of Dol-de-Bretagne and the wonderful walled town of St Malo, with its extensive Pirate and maritime history and much more.

We will take the evening ferry from Portsmouth to Northern France, which has restaurants, cinemas and bars with live entertainment to enjoy, before taking to our comfortable cabins. In the morning we will begin our exploration of this wonderland with a drive across the beautiful French countryside to the seaside town of Carnac, our home for the next four nights. After getting settled into the hotel we will have the rest of the day to explore the Megalithic Alignments and Dolmen Burial Chambers around the town and in a little known megalithic forest. The following day we will continue our exploration of the areas gems, taking in the sites of nearby towns and sea peninsulas. We will then be ready for a much deserved day off and will be free to relax on the beeches or swim in the sea. The town also has an interesting megalithic museum and tourist centre and of course shops, some selling Celtic designed items.

On our day’s adventure in the Enchanted Forest of Broceliande, we will enter a fairytale world of myth and legend. The church of Trehorenteuc is festooned with Arthurian imagery, with a beautiful stained window depicting the Holy Grail and many artworks around the walls showing the Knights of the Round Table and their exploits. We will visit the 'Valley of No Return', carved deep into the purple shale rock of the region, where Morgan kept unfaithful knights prisoner. Here we will also find the Golden Tree, which symbolizes the rebirth of the forest. The Spring of Barenton has magical powers and is where Merlin and Vivian would met. The Castle of Trecesson, as seen in the first picture above, adds to the mystical feel of the forest. We will visit the Tomb of Merlin near the Fountain of Eternal Youth. The Guillotine Oak is a wonderful ancient tree with a massive girth and an aura of wisdom. At the old Abbey of Paimipont we will find a wonderfully restored church, the Abbey dwellings, mystic lake and grotto.

On our return journey north we will visit the huge megalith at Dol-de-Bretagne, as shown in the top right picture above, before heading for the old walled city of St Malo, where we will spend the night. The City was originally a protected island, which got its name from a Welsh monk (Mac Low), in the 6th Century. In later centuries it became notorious as the home of a fierce breed of pirate-mariners, who were never quite under anyone's control but their own; for 4 years from 1590; Saint-Malo even declared itself to be an independent republic, taking up the motto "not French, not Breton, but Malois". Today you find a historic and atmospheric City packed with all sorts of restaurants, bars and shops. You can walk the City walls and extensive beeches or simply take in the atmosphere at one of the many street cafes.

7 days - £795

The price includes all transport from Preston, ferries (one with cabin), site visits and B&B in Carnac & St. Malo. (Single Supplement for rooms whilst in France - £100)

Proposed Itinerary

Day 1. Drive down to Portsmouth and catch the overnight ferry to St. Malo. A Cabin is included in the tour price, so after an evening in the ferries restaurants, cinemas and bars we will have a good nights rest.

Day 2. In the morning we will take a drive through the beautiful countryside of Northern France to Carnac to begin our exploration of this amazing area, which is awash with all manner of ancient sites. After booking into the hotel we will take in the visitors centre at the start off the vast Megalithic Alignments and will travel the length of these and will end in a little known megalithic forest.

Day 3. A second day visiting the ancient sites of the Carnac area.

Day 4. A free day to explore the historic coastlines, beeches, museums and shops of the town of Carnac and its environs.

Day 5. Today we will visit the enchanted forest of Broceliande the French centre of the Arthurian and Merlin legend. We will visit many of the associated sites and take a walk in the mystical forest.

Day 6. We will travel across France to northern Brittany and will we will visit the tallest Megalith in Northern Europe near Dol-de-Britagne and the Preslin Megalithic Alignments amongst others. We will then arrive at St Malo and will book into the hotel. We will then have some time to take in this spectacular medieval town and walk the narrow streets, walls and beaches

Day 7. We will take the morning ferry to Portsmouth and travel home