Megaliths of Carnac and of the shores of Morbihan

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The Megaliths of Carnac and the Shores of Morbihan: A Neolithic Legacy

The Megaliths of Carnac and the Shores of Morbihan, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2025, represent a remarkable testament to the Neolithic cultures that once thrived along the European Atlantic coast. This extensive collection of megalithic structures, primarily located in the Breton municipality of Carnac, offers a unique insight into the societal complexities, environmental understanding, and artistic expression of these ancient peoples.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

This serial property in Brittany, France, features a dense concentration of megalithic structures built during the Neolithic period (c. 5000–2300 BCE), carefully aligned with the area’s unique geomorphology. These monumental stone constructions—arranged in relation to one another and to natural features like terrain and waterways—reflect a sophisticated understanding of the environment. Rich engravings and associated artifacts further illustrate the cultural complexity of the societies that inhabited this part of the European Atlantic coast.

Encyclopedia Record: Carnac stones

The Carnac stones are an exceptionally dense collection of megalithic sites near the south coast of Brittany in northwestern France, consisting of stone alignments (rows), dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs. More than 3,000 prehistoric standing stones were hewn from local granite and erected by the pre-Celtic people of Brittany and form the largest such collection in the world. Most of the stones are within the Breton municipality of Carnac, but some to the east are within neighboring La Trinité-sur-Mer. The stones were erected at some stage during the Neolithic period, probably around 3300 BC, but some may date to as early as 4500 BC.

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