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Writer's pictureLauren Thyme

FRANCE: CARNAC, DOLMENS, CHARTRES CATHEDRAL, THE BLACK MADONNA, and MONT STE. MICHEL

Updated: Jan 25, 2021


Carnac Stones, France

France has its share of sacred sites, although only a few will be discussed in length here. Although stone circles are relatively common in the British Isles and stone rows rare, the opposite is true in France. "The greatest concentration of upright stones (menhirs) in Europe – 3,000 of them in all – stands just to the north of Carnac, a small coastal town in Brittany. Unlike Stonehenge, all but 70 of the stones at Carnac are arranged in [twelve] parallel rows." The rows stretching northward for over one kilometer are not equidistant from one another. Rather, they become progressively closer together towards the outer rows like a gigantic narrow fan, according to the statistical analyses and accurate surveying done by Dr. Alexander Thom, who believes Carnac may have originally totaled about 7,000 stones!

Within twenty kilometers of Carnac in the Morbihan region 44 dolmens or burial chambers are to be found. These graves were constructed around 5,000 BC, which predates Stonehenge by about 2,300 years and the Egyptian pyramids by 1,000 years. These dolmens are either passage graves (circular or rectangular chambers approached by a passage or corridor from the outside) or gallery graves (long rectangular chambers inside a burial mound). Many of the stones forming the burial chambers have fantastic and elaborate designs carved on them, which seem to have symbolic meaning as well as being art forms. Some of the designs show axe-heads, perhaps signifying either an agricultural symbol or one designating authority. One motif is a circle with projecting rays, while spirals and circles are other favorite designs. "Gavrinis" dolmen has axe designs and an array of clustered arcs, chevrons and serpentine forms on 23 of the 29 upright passage and chamber stones. The most beautiful tomb is "Table des Marchands" with four rows of large hook-like designs (corn-sheaves or shepherds’ crooks?) contained within a shield-shaped tablet which itself is surrounded by sunbeams.

Table des Marchands

Bare bones (from cremated remains) were interred within these tombs, while pottery, flint arrowheads, pendants, and large polished axes were buried with them as well.

Menhirs or standing stones are found over this wide area and many are associated with the tombs, but carvings on these are rare. Generally the stones are in their natural state, but a few have been sculpted using water and heat. "Le Geant" is the tallest standing stone, about 6 meters tall.