Carnac Stones
The Largest Group Of Standing Stones In The World, Some Three Thousand Neolithic Menhirs In Rows; The Megaliths Of Carnac And Of The Shores Of Morbihan Were Inscribed As A UNESCO World Heritage Site In 2025 (Confirm) · Carnac, Brittany
Just north of the seaside town of Carnac in southern Brittany, about three thousand standing stones run across the fields and heath in long, roughly parallel rows. They were raised by Neolithic farmers several thousand years ago, and nobody knows for certain why. The main groups are Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan, together stretching for about four kilometres, with stones from knee height to taller than a person, set in lines that shrink in size as they go. Around them are burial mounds, dolmens and single giant menhirs, and the wider area around the Gulf of Morbihan holds one of the densest groups of megaliths anywhere, listed by UNESCO in 2025. Because trampling and erosion damaged the ground, the main alignments are fenced; you can walk the paths beside them at any time, but inside only on guided visits in the busy season, while in winter some sections are usually open to walk freely. The Maison des Mégalithes at Ménec explains the site, and the beaches of Carnac-Plage are five minutes away.
Alignements de Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan, 56340 Carnac, Morbihan, Carnac, Brittany, France
The alignments can be seen from the roads and footpaths that run alongside them at any hour, all year, without a ticket. Inside the fences is another matter: in the main season, roughly spring to early autumn, the enclosed sections can be entered only on guided visits that leave from the Maison des Mégalithes at set times, and in winter, roughly October to March, parts such as Kermario and Kerlescan have usually been open for free walking; confirm the current rule and dates before going, as the arrangements have changed over the years and may change again under the new UNESCO management. The Maison des Mégalithes visitor centre at Ménec is open most of the year, with longer hours in summer and shorter ones in winter, and may close on some holidays. Guided tours in July and August fill up, and English-language tours are fewer than French ones, so book ahead. The prehistory museum in Carnac town and the Locmariaquer site have their own seasonal hours and closing days. The Tumulus Saint-Michel can be climbed from outside, but its interior galleries are generally closed.