The village of Paimpont is 11,000 hectares of forest and moors, where live its inhabitants scattered in many villages. In his village, you can admire the abbey of Paimpont, built from the thirteenth century, and its pond. The opportunity for a walk can be? But it is the forest that makes all the attraction of this city. In the nineteenth century, romantic intellectuals identified the forest of Paimpont as the mythical forest of Brocéliande, land of Merlin and Morgane. Megalithic or natural sites then become legendary places. Will you find the courage to survey the Val without Return, where Morgane would have forever imprisoned the unfaithful men? Or would you rather collect yourself on the site of the Tomb of Merlin, where the magician would be buried? But the richness of the forest is not only its tales and legends... The forest bears the traces of a very real industry: the forges. Until the end of the 19th century, the Forges de Paimpont were in operation and are now open to the public. Between old stones and vast forests exuding a perfume of mystery, the walk to Paimpont promises to be invigorating and intriguing.
In the village of Paimpont, the abbey imposes! The building, built from the thirteenth century, is of medieval Gothic style and housed the canons of the congregation of St. Genevieve until the Revolution. Like everything in Paimpont, a perfume of mystery floats around the abbey that houses the treasure of the abbey. This fabulous treasure consists of a 17th century ivory christ and a 15th century reliquary containing a Saint Judicaël radius and a 15th century polychrome wooden statue. The abbey church can be visited all year long from 8h to 18h. Its treasure and the exhibitions organized by the parish association are accessible from July 1st to August 30th.
Inside an old dependency of the abbey is the Tourist Office of Paimpont and the unmissable Porte des Secrets. This 55 minutes scenographic show is an excellent introduction to the Paimpont forest, to learn all about its nature but also its legends... Let yourself be carried by Pierre, a fictitious ranger, who will introduce you to what makes the forest and city of Paimpont what they are today.
Flagship activity for millennia, the metallurgy left traces to Paimpont. Let yourself be tempted by the visit of the Forges de Paimpont. The iron and steel village opens its doors every afternoon from Tuesday to Sunday from March 24th to November 11th and every day from July 16th to August 26th. You can follow a guided tour or visit the village freely.
The rest of the activities and places of legend to see absolutely is located in the forest. You can walk, cycle or even ride the trails, but beware, the forest is huge and it is advisable to take a guide not to get lost or to follow scrupulously the orientation maps issued by the Office. of Tourism. Each place of visit being more or less distant from each other, it is also obligatory to provide a means of transport. In autumn and winter, hunting is practiced in the forest. To know the trails available during this period, a passage by the Tourist Office is required. Finally, the place is 90% private. It is therefore necessary to respect the places.
Among the curiosities not to be missed in this fabulous forest, you can admire the Val sans Retour, which according to legend, was the stronghold of Morgane, the half-sister of King Arthur. It is said that the Val sans Retour was a place of perdition for any man who would have never been unfaithful... Then do not hesitate to go to the fountain of Barenton where it is said that it would have extraordinary powers, including that of triggering a terrible storm if his water was poured on his steps. And many are the sites of the forest to welcome strange creatures drawn straight from the Arthurian novels and Breton tales.
To browse the forest and its legends, you can follow a story ride or go there freely. But in this case, equip yourself! The Tourist Office of Brocéliande can provide maps and explanatory documents to know everything about this mysterious forest...
During July, do not miss the Rencontres de l'Imaginaire of Brocéliande. On the program, shows, conferences and many activities for a week await young and old.
During a weekend around mid-September, come and attend the Art and Nature Festival in Paimpont Forest. Exhibitions, animations, conferences and films are proposed for an unforgettable weekend on the theme of nature.
At the beginning of June, 3 days of street entertainment are planned at Paimpont as part of the Festival Stop Your Circus. A major and essential event of the town that lives to the rhythm of circus arts performances for a few days.
Around Paimpont, there are many interesting sites... Starting with the Center of the Arthurian Imagination, located in the castle of Comper, in Concoret. It is said, moreover, that his lake would welcome the fairy Viviane. There, you can walk in an exhibition dedicated to Arthurian legends and let yourself be drawn by a scenography to know all about Arthur and his knights.
Beside, the small village of Tréhorenteuc has a strange church... Named after the Second World War in Tréhorenteuc, Abbé Gillard began to restore this poor church that was falling into ruin. He takes the opportunity to insert legendary symbols... From now on, the Grail rubs the Virgin. Inside is a beautiful mosaic depicting a white deer, a form that Merlin readily adopts.
In Monteneuf, you will be dazzled by the site of Menhirs de Monteneuf and its 400 stones some of which even stand up. Thanks to reconstructions and workshops, you will be able to know all the techniques used by the ancestors to live and to erect its gigantic rocks.
