THE LARGEST DOLMEN IN FRANCE
At almost 20 metres long by six metres wide and four metres high, the Roche-aux-Fées is the largest dolmen in France and one of the best preserved in Europe. It was also one of the first one thousand historic monuments to receive listed status.
40 blocks of shale each weighing several tonnes
The Roche-aux-Fées is an impressive landmark comprising a long corridor of around forty shale slabs, the heaviest of which are over forty tonnes. In fact the overall weight of the megaliths is more than 500 tonnes.
The 5,000 year old edifice has definitely withstood the test of time ! The huge stones came from the Forêt du Theil-de-Bretagne, 4 km away, the only place where this type of rock can still be found.
A 5,000 year old burial site
The entrance to the ancient gallery grave is via the main portal made of three blocks of carved stone. Originally only the entrance to the burial chamber would have been visible as the grave would have been covered by a mound of earth (tumulus). Nowadays the dolmen is all that remains of this huge Neolithic monument.
The mysterious winter solstice alignment
During the winter solstice around 21 or 22 December, the sun rises directly facing the entrance to the dolmen and its rays light up the stone at the end of the gallery grave as if by magic. This enchanting sight attracts many visitors to the Roche-aux-Fées!