Anyone been to Carnac?

Question

Has anyone been to Carnac and Carnac Grande Plage beach?

Answer 1

Probably lots of people.  I'm not one of them.

Answer 2

Carnac (Breton= Karnag) is a village and commune beside the Gulf of Morbihan on the south coast of Brittany ( 47°34′N, 3°4′W) and part of the Morbihan département of northwestern France. Its inhabitants are called Carnacois. Carnac is renowned for the Carnac stones, one of the most extensive Neolithic menhirs collections in the world, as well as its beaches popular with tourists.

Carnac, found on a narrow peninsula halfway between the medieval town Vannes and the seaside resort Quiberon, is split into two centres - Carnac-Ville and Carnac-Plage (the beach front). In total there are five beaches, including la Grande Plage, and further to the east, Plage Men Dû and Beaumer.[1]

Neighboring communes

Carnac is connected to La Trinité-sur-Mer to the east by road and by a shared pedestrian/bike path along the beach. The other neighbouring communes are Crach, Erdeven, Ploemel and Plouharnel.

Carnac is famous as the site of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones. The stones were hewn from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany. Local tradition claims that the reason they stand in such perfectly straight lines is that they are a Roman legion turned to stone by Merlin (Brittany has its own local versions of the Arthurian cycle).

The Carnac stones were erected during the Neolithic period which lasted from around 4500 BC until 2000 BC. The precise date of the stones is difficult to ascertain as little dateable material has been found beneath them, but c.3300 BC is commonly attributed to the site's main phase of activity. One interpretation of the site is that successive generations visited the site to erect a stone in honour of their ancestors.

[edit] History

In 1864, La Trinité-sur-Mer and its port were separated from the commune, to create their own parish. The fishermen found the church Saint-Cornély to be too far from the port, and had one built in a more convenient location. La Trinité-sur-Mer thus became both a parish and a separate commune.

In 1903, a seaside resort was created on the old salt flats, developing extensively through the 1950s to create the split Carnac of today: Carnac-ville and Carnac-plage. In 1974, a renowned hydrotherapy centre was sponsored by champion cyclist Louison Bobet, retiring after having won the Tour de France three times from 1953 to 1955.

Carnac is also a brand of cycling shoes, specialising in shoes for road bikes, but recently producing a line of mountain bike shoes.

Carnac is famous as the site of more than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones. The stones were hewn from local rock and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany. Local tradition claims that the reason they stand in such perfectly straight lines is that they are a Roman legion turned to stone by Merlin (Brittany has its own local versions of the Arthurian cycle).

The Carnac stones were erected during the Neolithic period which lasted from around 4500 BC until 2000 BC. The precise date of the stones is difficult to ascertain as little dateable material has been found beneath them, but c.3300 BC is commonly attributed to the site's main phase of activity. One interpretation of the site is that successive generations visited the site to erect a stone in honour of their ancestors.

[edit] History

In 1864, La Trinité-sur-Mer and its port were separated from the commune, to create their own parish. The fishermen found the church Saint-Cornély to be too far from the port, and had one built in a more convenient location. La Trinité-sur-Mer thus became both a parish and a separate commune.

In 1903, a seaside resort was created on the old salt flats, developing extensively through the 1950s to create the split Carnac of today: Carnac-ville and Carnac-plage. In 1974, a renowned hydrotherapy centre was sponsored by champion cyclist Louison Bobet, retiring after having won the Tour de France three times from 1953 to 1955.

Carnac is also a brand of cycling shoes, specialising in shoes for road bikes, but recently producing a line of mountain bike shoes.

Other sights around Carnac



The lake Etang du moulin du lac.There are a number of camping grounds in the woods around Carnac, some clustered around various lakes such as the Etang du moulin du lac which is immediately to the west of the river Crac'h.

Answer 3

Yes, we go there regularly. It is an awesome place!

There are literally thousands of  standing stones (menhirs) arranged in geometrical patterns or in alleys which you can see from above as wooden view points have been constructed so that you have a different perspective from that on the ground. Compared to Stonehenge, the stones are much smaller, but they are disposed over a much larger area.

When you are there you really feel connected to the people who erected them and took so much trouble and effort with so few means to do so.

Carnac Grande Plage beach is wonderful, long and very sandy. It is cleaned regularly by the municipality. It is lovely to sit on, sunbathe and swim. When the tide rises at sunset it looks as if the sea is made of liquid gold.

It is an unspoilt area and very quiet out of season, but even at the height of summer it is never unpleasantly crowded. There are many things to see and to do all around.

If you are going there, you will really be amazed. Do take your camera as there are opportunities for splendid photos.

http://www.offrench.net/photos/gallery-3...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/31096705@N0...

PS. I see from your previous question that you will be staying at Keycamp. Nice, clean place, with good facilities. Five minutes from the beach. Lots of young people. You will really enjoy it. Have a wonderful time!

http://www.keycamp.co.uk/index.cfm?fusea...

Answer 4

A magical unspoiled place.  A must to visit.

Answer 5

Carnac is the most renowned area in France for standing stones (menhirs). There area large alignments of them, unlike in the other areas of France where they generally appear in small groups of a few dozens.

Apart from the 'official' alignments, others are marked on the maps, but hidden in filelds and forests all around the town.

You can also visit a tumulus not far from the main menhir alignements.

Apart from that, Carnac is a rather classic seaside resort.

Answer 6

no.

Answer 7

Yes, go see the menhirs that are dotted around that area.  Although they are smaller than those in the U.K. they are still as weird and creepy.

Answer 8

are you sure you spell the names correctly?

Answer 9

yes - quite nice and interesting