Cairn de gavrinis

 

Embark from the harbour of Larmor Baden. After a short and pleasant trip, have a stopover in the Gulf of Morbihan’s heart, on the island of Gavrinis, in order to visit one of the most exceptional and unique prehistoric site of France. A monumental funerary architecture of dry stone covering a dolmen.

Erected over 6000 years ago, it is nowadays, worldwide known for its profusion of engraved ornaments.

Discovering Gavrinis means enjoying a breath-taking panoramic view over the Gulf of Morbihan, between Berder island, Er Lanninc, the island of “La Jument” the Gulf’s estuary and the ocean.

Discovering Gavrinis, means also to go back in time. Built over 6000 years ago, during the Neolithic age, long before Stonehenge, the famous Egyptian pyramids, and the Moï of the the Easter island.

The cairn of Gavrinis is a funerary architecture made of dry stone, housing a burial of our remote ancestors.

Discovering Gavrinis, means admiring a gem of the prehistoric age. The Cairn of Gavrinis is also remarkable due to its dimensions: Over 50 meters in diameter, and 6 meters high and by the richness of its engravings.

It offers a profusion of engravings of rare suability, that can not be found anywhere else in the world. Axes, bows, spirals… are represented, but the question is? What are the meanings behind them? Why have the Neolithic men built such a monument? Who were they? How did they used to live?

Contact us:  accueil@cairndegavrinis.com
Cale de pen Lannic, 56870 Larmor Baden
Phone: +33 2 97 57 19 38

Follow the new of the Cairn of Gavrinis and Petit Mont as well as our program. Click here

Remarkable due to its dimensions: Over 50 meters in diameter, and 6 meters’ high with a global volume of 6 600m³ .

Built during the Neolithic ag, between 4250 and 4000 BC, the Cairn of Gavrinis overlays a dolmen with a 14 meters long corridor. At the end of this corridor, the only funerary chamber of the site, measuring 2,5 meters on the side. At the time, prestigious members of the local community were buried along with their most valuable belonging, attesting of their high social status (axes, jewelleries, ceramics…)

Nowadays, it overhangs the Gulf of Morbihan. However, 6000 years ago, It used to overhang the deep channel of the Vannes’s river. By imposing itself into the landscape that way, it fulfils a symbolic function and testifies the will of the Neolithic men to organise their communities and mark their territories.

Through the guided visit, you will learn more about the history of this monument and its historic period. Commonly called “The Sixtine chapel of the Neolithic”, the cairn of Gavrinis is a true architectural and ornamental gem. The scientists are still looking for answers concerning the meanings of this incredible engraved setting. Indeed, the 29 paving stones which are making up the inside of the monument are almost all engraved.

“almost all the stones which are making up the walls are engraved and covered with weird drawings. These are shapes, straight or broken lines, hundreds lines of drawings. There are chevrons, zizzag patterns and so many more lines, which are impossible to describe.” (Prosper Mérimée, travel notes written during his trip in the west of France in 1836)

 

A fascinating discovery!

By visiting the cairn of Gavrinis, you will be surprised by the technical achievements of the men and women of the Neolithic age. How did they managed to built such a monument? Some of the stones they used, come from some places far away from the actual location spot. One of them, a 23 tone stone for example, has been displaced for over 4km at a time where, the Gulfe of Morbihan was the small sea we know today. The visit of the Cairn of Gavrinis is a wonderful opportunity to reveal many mysteries.

 

The cairn of Gavinis  is open in 2020:

From June 16^th to July, 3^th

• From 9:30am to 6:30pm every day, except mondays

 From July, 4^th to August 31^st

• 7/7 from, 9:30am to 8pm

From September 2nd to Sunday September 30^th

• From 9:30 am to 6:30 pm every day, except mondays
  

 Please note that you should imperatively book your tickets in advanced, and come at least 30 minutes before the departure time of the boat.