In spite of the fact that this forest does not actually exist, it has been the subject of many discussions and inspired many authors. Brocéliande, at about thirty kilometers from Rennes, is the legendary side of the Paimpont forest, situated in the commune of Paimpont. The spirit of the knights of the round table are always around, and one would not be surprised to see Lancelot appear at the edge of the “Val sans retour”, the valley of no return.

Is that the outline of Viviane you see over there, close to the Barenton's fountain? Magic is operating, undoubtedly due to some discreet fairy's spell. After all, who could tell what is possible or not in the heart of the land of Merlin the magician? Waters bear poetical names: there is no such thing as a still lake in Brocéliande, but a “Mirror of the fairies”. You get carried away easily by your imagination, and every step you take will lead you further into this fantasy world, filled with bubbling fountains, elfs and fairies. The unique charm of the Brocéliande forest lays in the way that the imaginary and the real, myths and history melt together. It is not surprising, under these circumstances, that Christian and Arthurian symbols might feature together on a stained-glass window of the church in Tréhorenteuc, showing the apostles gathered around the holy Grail.

Several times, the “Val sans retour” has been the victim of forest fires. It boasts the Arbre d'Or,( the Golden tree), a chestnut tree, entirely covered in fine gold, created by the artist François Davin in 1991, and surrounded by five black trees, reminders of the burned-out forest. Some of the forest's jewels are legendary, like the Fountain of Youth or Merlin's grave. Others are real, like the Guillotin oak, supposedly more than one thousand years old, or the one called “des hindrés”, whose circumference reaches 5 meters. The lake “Pas de Houx”, the biggest one in the forest, as well as the 13th century abbey at the shore of the Paimpont lake are not to be missed out. In the southern part of the forest, close to the “Pont de Secret”, the ancient forges bear witness to the metallurgic history of the site. Further north, the castle of Comper, that was once owned by a companion of William the Conqueror, is now hosting the Arthur's Center exhibitions. The impressing castle of Trécesson, in Campénéac, is equally a well-worth sight to behold. As if to recall the mysterious and legendary spirit of the place, a ghostly barn owl (called White lady in French) regularly haunts the surrounding misty moor.

 

Center of Arthurian legends: http://www.centre-arthurien-broceliande.com

The country of Brocéliande in terms of tourism: http://www.broceliande-tourisme.info

Guide of Brocéliande: http://www.broceliande-pays.com