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The Significance of Monuments

The Significance of Monuments

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<< Our Photo Pages >> Barnenez Cairn - Chambered Cairn in France in Bretagne:Finistère (29)

Submitted by TheCaptain on Friday, 28 February 2014  Page Views: 30736

Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Barnenez Cairn Alternative Name: Barnenez Tumulus
Country: France Département: Bretagne:Finistère (29) Type: Chambered Cairn
Nearest Town: Morlaix  Nearest Village: Plouezoc’h
Latitude: 48.667600N  Longitude: 3.8585W
Condition:
5Perfect
4Almost Perfect
3Reasonable but with some damage
2Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site
1Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks
0No data.
-1Completely destroyed
4 Ambience:
5Superb
4Good
3Ordinary
2Not Good
1Awful
0No data.
4 Access:
5Can be driven to, probably with disabled access
4Short walk on a footpath
3Requiring a bit more of a walk
2A long walk
1In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find
0No data.
4 Accuracy:
5co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates
4co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map
3co-ordinates scaled from a bad map
2co-ordinates of the nearest village
1co-ordinates of the nearest town
0no data
5

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I have visited· I would like to visit

Macha eirrac5 angieweekender would like to visit

markj99 visited on 20th Sep 2023 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 4 I was suffering from Stone-Fatigue after a week in and around Carnac. I opted to drive for 3 hours to Cairn de Barnenez as a relaxing change. The monument was well sign-posted. The entry fee was a reasonable 6 euros. The epic scale of Cairn de Barnenez was intimidating at first. There are 11 parallel dolmens in the cairn running SE-NW, however all but one of the passages are closed to the public. It took me 45 minutes to fully capture the essence of the monument. Cairn de Barnenez is a recommended visit.

Catrinm visited on 3rd Sep 2022 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

lichen visited on 31st Aug 2022 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

richard_cammo visited on 2nd Mar 2022 - their rating: Cond: 3 Amb: 4 Access: 4

Chrus visited on 1st Jan 2020 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

w650marion visited on 21st Sep 2019 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 So big, it's difficult to fit into one photo! Interesting how the chambers changed in their construction over time, now easy to see due to the damage at the back. The chambers with the rock art are sealed but the visitor centre has photos.

bishop_pam visited on 2nd Aug 2019 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5

Lindesu visited on 15th Sep 2015 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 5 Access: 5 Amazing! Such a magnificent structure overlooking the sea.

43559959 visited on 27th Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 5

TheCaptain visited on 16th Apr 2014 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 After our visit to Ile Carn, we really had to pay a visit to this, to show Dad the sanitised version of one of these big Brittany Cairns, and just how big they can get. Unfortunately, we arrived just after 5:00, and the man would not let us in, saying that yes, it is open till 5:30, but last entrance was before 5:00 (now about €5:50). Never mind, we had time to wander round the outside, and although the fence and hedges now prevent any view from the south or east, from the north most of the cairn can be seen through a few gaps from where the cairn 2 is. I am not sure how many of the 11 passages and chambers can be entered these days, as most look closed off. However, for our purposes, this was enough of a visit really; as Dad said, it wouldn't be as good as the one out on the island.

TheCaptain visited on 22nd Jun 2005 - their rating: Cond: 5 Amb: 3 Access: 4 This magnificent large cairn, is now signposted from miles around as Le Grand Cairn (de Barnenez). It costs €4.60 to get in, and there is a little visitor centre and shop, with replicas of some of the carved stones on display. Unlike 12 years ago, or whenever, you cannot go into many of the chambers, which are now walled off fairly crudely and unimaginatively, which I think really spoils the place. Its not just that you cant get in, but the way its been done really detracts from the view of the cairn and all its many entrances. Only two chambers and passages are now open, these being the two beehive construction open chambers, but these seem to be cracking and breaking up. I was told by the man in the centre that they are not, and that they have been like that since their discovery. Perhaps its my memory, but I wonder if the 1960s restoration work is not lasting anywhere near so long as the original 6,000 year old work! It's still a mighty impressive and imposing tomb sitting on top of its headland, and I think that more land has been cleared around it, allowing much better views over the Bay of Morlaix on one side, and Anse de Terenez on the other, which during this visit were full with a high tide, making the whole place seem truly wonderful. I got talking to the men in the shop, and they were interested to hear about what I was doing, and one of the guys suggested a couple of places that I shouldn't miss. Commana allee couverte near Roche Trevezel, and Chapelle des Sept Saints near Lannion - a chapel built on top of a dolmen, which can still be seen.

johnstone visited on 15th Jun 2003 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4

TheCaptain visited on 1st Jun 1993 - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 4 Access: 4 Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 4. Primel, Barnenez, picnic by Morlaix river. Carantec, St Pol de Leon, Roscoff. Overnight ferry back to Plymouth.

negus visited - their rating: Cond: 4 Amb: 5 Access: 5

rrmoser neolithique02 DrewParsons Martin_L Ripley423 have visited here

Average ratings for this site from all visit loggers: Condition: 4.14 Ambience: 4.29 Access: 4.36

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by neolithique02 : Cairn de Barnenez Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)
The magnificent remains of Barnenez Chambered Cairn lie on a peninsular jutting into the Baie de Morlaix just north of the village of Plouezoc’h in Finistere, Brittany. This cairn was only really rediscovered in 1955 when quarrying for stone to build a local road cut down into one of the major internal structures.

This quarrying has left part of the cairn removed, which allows a good view of the construction of the cairn, and a couple of the internal chambers open to viewing.

Dating back to 4500 BC, the cairn is 72 metres in length, 25 metres wide, 6 metres high and contains 11 burial chambers. One of the oldest pieces of major architecture to remain largely intact, it has been called the Neolithic Parthenon.

Built in two separate stages, using a different kind of stone for each part, the upper part is constructed of local dolerite, has been dated to 4400BC and has 5 chambers, while it’s more modern half is constructed of granite has been dated to 4100BC and contains another 6 chambers. It is constructed in several steps, with some of the external sides, notably the downhill end, having large slabs incorporated into the walls presumably to help keep it all in place.

The chambers are generally made of a central chamber, with a passageway leading to it of length 7 to 12 metres, the entrances all being in the southeast side. Most of the passages and chambers are slab lined and covered by large granite slabs, although one or two of the chambers have magnificent corbelled beehive type roofs. Several of the granite slabs within certain chambers have carvings on them.

One of the most impressive ancient monuments I have ever visited.

Visited Tuesday 1st June 1993

Base Mérimée (Historic Monument)
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Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by Flickr : Finiste Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Image copyright: Mathieu Breizh (Mathieu Brient), hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by 43559959 : Barnanez Cairn,at it's best in between the showers an the heavy overcast. further pictures: http://www.netfoto.no/NY%20NETTSIDE/WEB%20BOOKS/MEGALITHIC%20BRITTANY/index.html (Vote or comment on this photo)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by thecaptain : One of the semi destroyed chambers found due to the quarrying work in the 1950's at Barnenez Cairn, with the light seen right through the entrance chamber from the far side of the cairn. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by RunaStera : The "Double-Cairn" of Barnenez. It is build 5000 BC, 80m long, 40m wide and 7m high. It contents a lot of dolmen. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by 43559959 : Barnanez Cairn,arrival in rain and overcast, but the weather soon turned into nice photoweather. further pictures: http://www.netfoto.no/NY%20NETTSIDE/WEB%20BOOKS/MEGALITHIC%20BRITTANY/index.html

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by theCaptain : Barnenez Cairn western side seen from outside the enclosed area, from nearby the probable cairn 2. Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France (2 comments)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by Martin_L : Darkroom lith print on Maco Expo WA3 double-weight chamois paper executed March 2022. Showing rear side of Chamber B in the western part of the cairn (photo taken May 2001).

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by karolus : Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by DrewParsons : Frontal view showing passageway entrances

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by DrewParsons : View from the back of the cairn in September 2009

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by Martin_L : The magnificent Barnenez Cairn in May 2001.

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by thecaptain : Some of the chambers found due to the quarrying work in the 1950's at Barnenez Cairn

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by thecaptain : Barnenez Cairn. Best I could do at getting the whole thing in shot. This is the southeastern side, and the entrances to many of the eleven passageways can be seen. The older part of the tomb (4500BC) is to the right and can be identified by the darker dolerite stone. Its newer half on the left is made from a lighter granite, and only dates to 4100BC (1 comment)

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by 43559959 : Barnanez Cairn,a most specatcular cairn. further pictures: http://www.netfoto.no/NY%20NETTSIDE/WEB%20BOOKS/MEGALITHIC%20BRITTANY/index.html

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by theCaptain : The quarried region of the huge Barnenez Cairn which first gave away its presence. Seen here from outside the encosed off area of the Cairn, from near to Cairn 2.

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by postman : Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Exposed dolmen . Taken on a motor homing holiday in 2004

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by postman : Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Crawled through a gap that was probably out of bounds, I know, I'm a bad'un. Taken on a motor homing holiday in 2004

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by Martin_L : Site in Bretagne: Finistère (29) France: Rear side of Chamber B in the western part of the cairn (May 2001).

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by 43559959 : The only passage left open of the many passage graves. further pictures: http://www.netfoto.no/NY%20NETTSIDE/WEB%20BOOKS/MEGALITHIC%20BRITTANY/index.html

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by 43559959 : Barnanez Cairn, a most spectacular sight in between the april showers of the northern Bretagne. further pictures: http://www.netfoto.no/NY%20NETTSIDE/WEB%20BOOKS/MEGALITHIC%20BRITTANY/index.html

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by theCaptain : The huge sprawl of Barnenez Cairn on its hilltop site, seen here from about a mile away to the south at Kergaredec.

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by neolithique02 : Cairn de Barnenez Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Image copyright: Néolithique02, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by postman : Site in Bretagne:Finistère (29) France Taken on a motor homing holiday in 2004

Barnenez Cairn
Barnenez Cairn submitted by postman

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Nearby sites listing. In the following links * = Image available
 124m NW 324° Barnenez cairn #2* Chambered Cairn
 5.6km NE 46° Ker' Menhir Standing Stone (Menhir)
 5.9km S 186° Alignement de Kergadoret Stone Row / Alignment
 6.2km NNE 29° Pointe De Primel Dolmen* Chambered Tomb
 6.3km NNE 28° Pointe De Primel Tumulus* Chambered Cairn
 6.4km NNE 28° Pointe de Primel menhir* Standing Stone (Menhir)
 6.9km ENE 65° Fontaine St Jean-du-Doigt Holy Well or Sacred Spring
 7.1km ESE 105° Menhirs de Men Bras 2 Stone Row / Alignment
 7.2km ESE 105° Menhirs de Men Bras 1 Stone Row / Alignment
 7.2km E 92° Kerprigent Alignement de Menhirs* Stone Row / Alignment
 7.2km ESE 106° Menhir de Kéréonec Standing Stone (Menhir)
 7.5km W 261° Kerivin Dolmen* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 8.3km E 100° Menhir de Kermechou Standing Stone (Menhir)
 9.6km W 281° St Pol-de-Léon mégalithes disparu Standing Stone (Menhir)
 10.4km SSE 166° Musée des Jacobins* Museum
 10.5km E 81° Bez An Inkinerez* Passage Grave
 11.3km ESE 109° Menhir de Castell ar Jolu Standing Stone (Menhir)
 11.8km SSE 146° Dolmen de Toulgoat Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 12.1km ESE 111° Cromlech de Croas an Torret Stone Circle
 12.3km WNW 287° Dalle à Cupules de Mean Diante Rock Art
 12.7km NW 309° Dolmen du Jardin Botanique* Burial Chamber or Dolmen
 12.7km NW 309° Nécropole du Jardin Botanique* Barrow Cemetery
 13.1km NW 309° Menhir de Kreach ar Bolloch 2 Standing Stone (Menhir)
 13.2km NW 309° Menhir de Kreach ar Bolloch 1 Standing Stone (Menhir)
 15.2km W 278° Dolmen de Tévenn Burial Chamber or Dolmen
View more nearby sites and additional images

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"Barnenez Cairn" | Login/Create an Account | 8 News and Comments
  
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Re: Barnenez Cairn by angieweekender on Friday, 09 March 2018
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I'm planning on visiting Barnenez this year. Funny that I was telling my husband that it's probably the oldest and first built stone structure in NW Europe and I find this link from the Telegraph saying that's it's likely the oldest built stone structure in the world. I don't trust daily newspapers extraordinary claims such as these. Anyway here's the link https://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/lists/the-oldest-buildings-on-earth/barnenez/
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Barnenez Cairn by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 29 April 2014
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Notes from a visit in April 2014.

"After our visit to Ile Carn, we really had to pay a visit to this, to show Dad the sanitised version of one of these big Brittany Cairns, and just how big they can get. Unfortunately, we arrived just after 5:00, and the man would not let us in, saying that yes, it is open till 5:30, but last entrance was before 5:00 (now about €5:50).

Never mind, we had time to wander round the outside, and although the fence and hedges now prevent any view from the south or east, from the north most of the cairn can be seen through a few gaps from where the cairn 2 is. I am not sure how many of the 11 passages and chambers can be entered these days, as most look closed off.

However, for our purposes, this was enough of a visit really; as Dad said, it wouldn't be as good as the one out on the island."
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Barnenez Cairn by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 29 April 2014
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Notes from my visit in June 2005.

"This magnificent large cairn, is now signposted from miles around as Le Grand Cairn (de Barnenez). It cost €4.60 to get in, and there is a little visitor centre and shop, with replicas of some of the carved stones on display.

Unlike 12 years ago, or whenever, you cannot go into many of the chambers, which are now walled off fairly crudely and unimaginitavely, which I think really spoils the place. Its not just that you cant get in, but the way its been done really detracts from the view of the cairn and all its many entrances.

Only two chambers and passages are now open, these being the two beehive construction open chambers, but these seem to be cracking and breaking up. I was told by the man in the centre that they are not, and that they have been like that since their discovery. Perhaps its my memory, but I wonder if the 1960s restoration work is not lasting anywhere near so long as the original 6,000 year old work!

It's still a mighty impressive and imposing tomb sitting on top of its headland, and I think that more land has been cleared around it, allowing much better views over the Bay of Morlaix on one side, and Anse de Terenez on the other, which during this visit were full with a high tide, making the whole place seem truly wonderful.

I got talking to the men in the shop, and they were interested to hear about what I was doing, and one of the guys suggested a couple of places that I shouldnt miss. Commana allee couverte near Roche Trevezel, and Chapelle des Sept Saints near Lannion - a chapel built on top of a dolmen, which can still be seen."
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Barnenez Cairn by neolithique02 on Tuesday, 11 October 2011
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More oics and videos here :
http://neolithique02.blog4ever.com/blog/photos-cat-65835-1948668024-nouveau___visite_du_cairn_de_barnenez_a_plouezoc_h.html
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Barnenez Cairn by TheCaptain on Tuesday, 06 June 2006
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Satellite view of this wonderful cairn is now in high resolution on Google Earth, check it out using the blue aeroplane button.
[ Reply to This ]

Re: Barnenez Cairn by RunaStera on Monday, 04 July 2005
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Access 5 comment: you have to enter the area about long stairways. There is nearly no chance for wheelchair-drivers to visit and it is very difficult with baby-carriages. Only if you are in health it is a 5 ;-)
[ Reply to This ]
    Re: Barnenez Cairn by TheCaptain on Monday, 04 July 2005
    (User Info | Send a Message)
    You are quite right to question the Access = 5 for this wonderful cairn, which was put on the portal from a visit of mine many years ago. Access = 5 was implying you can see it from the carpark.

    My notes from my recent visit a couple of weeks ago have rated it as Access = 3/5. You can still see it from the car park, but to get to the actual cairn, there is not only the stairs and walk, but you have to be there in their opening hours as well, so I will change to Access = 3.

    [ Reply to This ]

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