La Roche-aux-Fées

La Roche-aux-Fées (English: The Fairies' Rock) is a Neolithic gallery grave, or dolmen, located in the commune of Essé, in the French department of Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany. Its name comes from a legend that claims that the stones were placed by fairies. The dolmen consists of more than forty stones forming a corridor four times longer than wide. Its northwest-southeast axis is on an alignment with sunrise at the winter solstice.

La Roche-aux-Fées
La Roche-aux-Fées
La Roche-aux-Fées is located in France
La Roche-aux-Fées
Shown within France
Alternative nameThe Fairies' Rock
LocationBrittany
RegionFrance
Coordinates47.93639°N 1.40472°W / 47.93639; -1.40472
TypeDolmen
History
PeriodsNeolithic

Description

The tomb is one of the most famous and largest neolithic dolmens in Brittany.[1] It consists of a covered passage of stone blocks, with roofing stones laid across them.[2] It is about 20 metres long,[3] and there are around 48 blocks, of which the heaviest weighs about 45 tonnes.[2] the interior is divided into two separate chambers.[2] The entrance is aligned with the rising sun at the winter solstice.[1] The original structure would have been covered with a mound of stones and earth.[1] It is thought to date from between 3000 and 2500 BC.[1]

See also

References
  1. Barbour, Philippe (2005). Brittany. New Holland. p. 87. ISBN 1860111424.
  2. Ardagh, John (1985). The Penguin Guide to France. Penguin. p. 98.
  3. Yates, Dorian (2009). Green Earth Guide: Traveling Naturally in France. North Atlantic. p. 111. ISBN 1556438060.

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