Brocéliande: Merlin's Forest
Brittany, France
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Keeper of Brocéliande
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300
XP
+100 France
= 400 total
2 days
Brocéliande: Merlin's Forest
300 + 100 XP
The Forêt de Paimpont in Ille-et-Vilaine was called Brecélien in the 15th century, and Wace named a Breton forest Brecheliant around 1160; but the identification of this particular forest with the Brocéliande of the Arthurian romances only took hold in the middle of the 19th century and was settled by Félix Bellamy. What the medieval texts do place here is the fountain of Barenton, whose water poured on its stone was said to bring rain and storm, and where Yvain fought the Black Knight. Later legend added Merlin's meeting with Viviane at the same stone, Morgan le Fay's valley of no return, and Merlin's own tomb. The four sites lie up to 19 km apart across the forest, based on Paimpont.
Required Activities
1
of 4
Walk up from Folle Pensée to the Fontaine de Barenton, watch for the chains of bubbles that make the water look as though it is boiling although it holds at 10 °C all year, then pour water from it onto the sandstone block above it now called the Perron de Merlin — the lords of Montfort came here to do exactly that to bring rain. Wace came to see the marvel around 1160 and found nothing, and wrote that he went home a fool for having looked for folly; see whether you do better.
2
of 4
Walk the Val sans Retour from Tréhorenteuc, the circuit through heath and oak where Morgan le Fay is said to have held knights who had been unfaithful, and look for the ground that is still recovering: the fire of 12 August 2022 ran 600 hectares between Campénéac and Tréhorenteuc and destroyed 400 hectares of heath and wood outright
3
of 4
In the north of the forest, off the D71, find the Tombeau de Merlin: two perpendicular slabs of red schist, all that survived when the Neolithic gallery grave they belonged to was destroyed in 1894 after being dug. Read the notes people still leave wedged between them, then find the modest pool beside it that goes by the name Fontaine de Jouvence.
4
of 4
At the Château de Comper on the edge of Lac de Comper, visit the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien — the lakeside castle associated in legend with the birth of Viviane beneath the lake waters, and the Centre houses an exhibition on the Arthurian legend's full history in Brittany
Walk up from Folle Pensée to the Fontaine de Barenton, watch for the chains of bubbles that make the water look as though it is boiling although it holds at 10 °C all year, then pour water from it onto the sandstone block above it now called the Perron de Merlin — the lords of Montfort came here to do exactly that to bring rain. Wace came to see the marvel around 1160 and found nothing, and wrote that he went home a fool for having looked for folly; see whether you do better.
Walk the Val sans Retour from Tréhorenteuc, the circuit through heath and oak where Morgan le Fay is said to have held knights who had been unfaithful, and look for the ground that is still recovering: the fire of 12 August 2022 ran 600 hectares between Campénéac and Tréhorenteuc and destroyed 400 hectares of heath and wood outright
In the north of the forest, off the D71, find the Tombeau de Merlin: two perpendicular slabs of red schist, all that survived when the Neolithic gallery grave they belonged to was destroyed in 1894 after being dug. Read the notes people still leave wedged between them, then find the modest pool beside it that goes by the name Fontaine de Jouvence.
At the Château de Comper on the edge of Lac de Comper, visit the Centre de l'Imaginaire Arthurien — the lakeside castle associated in legend with the birth of Viviane beneath the lake waters, and the Centre houses an exhibition on the Arthurian legend's full history in Brittany
Before you go
The four sites are spread across the forest: the Tombeau de Merlin in the north off the D71, Barenton in the west above Folle Pensée, the Val sans Retour at Tréhorenteuc and Comper near Concoret, nearly 19 km from end to end, so this is a driving day with four separate walks. The Fontaine de Barenton is reached only on foot and the approach is rough and poorly marked. The Château de Comper opens 4 April to 31 October and is closed all winter, with reduced days in September and October. Brocéliande burns: over 700 hectares in September 1990 and 600 more in August 2022 around Tréhorenteuc. Never light anything, and check local fire restrictions in summer.
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Challenge Location
XP Breakdown
Challenge XP
300 XP
France country bonus
+100 XP
Potential total
400 XP
Country bonus earned on completion of your first challenge in France.
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