Breton legends, Carnac, Brocéliande and other fairy tales

With its Celtic roots, Brittany is often equated with Irish or British culture. Home to wild moors covered in ancient rock formations and a jagged coastline, Breizh (the Breton name for Brittany) was built on legendary stories - of giants, fairies, elves, kings, magicians, fantastic creatures and mermaids. The stories of Arthurian legend - Arthur, Merlin, Morgan le Fay and Viviane, the Lady of the Lake - are part of the cultural heritage.

Many of the landscapes are reminiscent of these fairy tales. Just take a walk through the forests of Brocéliande and Huelgoat in particular.

Brittany's megalithic sites, such as the astonishing stone alignments at Carnac, are a marvel of human ingenuity, and the ancient menhirs and dolmens contain many stories from the past that are still unknown.

Brittany encourages us to awaken our inner child through its legends and myths. Every landscape here is mystical. Travellers set off to discover forests unlike any other. Magic pervades the lakes (inhabited by fairies) and the paths are dominated by ancient trees. In the background, megaliths rise from the moors, while the woods are populated by playful, sometimes prankster elves.

The legend of King Arthur has spread throughout the land thanks to these ancestral tales.

It's possible to immerse yourself in the rural life of yesteryear in the Monts d'Arrée! A land of peat bogs, moorland and ferns, this enchanting place is home to an eco-museum, with around fifteen buildings to give you a better understanding of the life of peasants in days gone by, right in the heart of Brittany. Located in Commana, the village extends over a 12-hectare agricultural site and includes around fifteen traditional houses. This miller's village includes a stable, enclosed beds, a mill and a bakery, all of which are open to the public.

Once you've immersed yourself in history, it's easy to take a stroll through the estate's orchard, vegetable garden and woods.

The rural pilgrimage continues at Maison Cornec in Saint-Rivoal, the former home of an 18th-century farming family.

What else is there to do?

In Saint-Rivoal, the more curious can climb to the top of Montagne Saint-Michel for a 360° panoramic view of the Monts d'Arrée.

Over the centuries, the Huelgoat forest (which literally means forest from above) has been a source of inspiration for artists and historians. Ancestors have had a field day inventing legends. It has to be said that the mysterious landscape plunges us straight into a fantasy tale.

Spread over several hectares, rounded granite blocks seem to have fallen from the sky. The boulders all have their own particular shapes and are surrounded by centuries-old trees that hide many secrets. From a more down-to-earth point of view, these boulders are the result of volcanic activity.

Close to a peaceful lake, the town of Huelgoat is a little jewel where it is pleasant to stroll.

Brocéliande. The very mention of its name transports you into an imaginary world. Spread over 20,000 hectares, this immense forest at Paimpont is a veritable labyrinth. But before venturing into this magical maze, the experience begins with La Porte des Secret at Paimpont - a good introduction to the secrets of Brocéliande. This is a scenographic show with sound and light that lasts 45 minutes.

The quest for enchantment continues with the romantic walk around the Paimpont pond. This 4km walk is punctuated with activities, poems and observation points.

Now it's time to venture into the forest. There are several routes to choose from, by bike, on foot or accompanied by a storyteller. For three hours, you'll be transported back to your childhood.

The first quest is to find Merlin's tomb. By following a small leaf-shaped logo on the stones, you'll come across a 9-metre-long megalithic path surrounded by stones symbolising the magician's tomb.

A wave of the magic wand and you're facing the Lady of the Lake refuge. To get there, you have to dare to enter Val Sans Retour and contemplate the Miroir aux Fées pond. Then head deep into the forest to discover the majestic trees. The storyteller takes visitors to the famous pond inhabited by the fairy sisters, then to the stones that resemble a dragon and the beautiful golden tree.

Many theories have been put forward to explain the purpose of the Carnac alignments, but to no avail... these immense stones still have no origin. Most archaeologists and historians believe that they were erected during the Neolithic period, which lasted from 4500 BC to 2000 BC. However, it is impossible to give an exact date because of the lack of material under the stones that could be used for radiocarbon dating.

Often referred to as the Stonehenge of France, this collection of over 3,000 prehistoric standing stones, located around the village of Carnac in the Morbihan département, is much larger than the famous monument in Wiltshire, England.

The largest megalithic site in Europe is considered to be one of the best-preserved examples. It stretches over 4km and covers an area of 40 hectares. The stones are divided into three zones and form long rows.