Brocéliande Forest

• From Rennes~40 min
• Main villagePaimpont
• Best forLegends, walks
• TimeHalf to full day

The forest of Paimpont, about 40 minutes west of Rennes, is identified with Brocéliande, the enchanted forest of Arthurian legend. Its oaks, beeches, ponds and purple schist valleys are a wonderful place to walk, and every path seems to lead to a story.

Legendary sites

• Merlin's tomb and the Fontaine de Jouvence.
• The Fontaine de Barenton, a spring said to bring storms.
• The Val sans Retour (valley of no return), where the fairy Morgan trapped unfaithful lovers, and the Arbre d'Or, a gilded tree planted after a forest fire in 1990.
• The Château de Comper, home of a centre devoted to the Arthurian legend, said to be the birthplace of the Lady of the Lake.

Paimpont

The village sits beside a lake and an abbey. The tourist office here sells maps and runs guided storytelling walks.

Tips

• Many sites are a short walk from small car parks; good shoes help in the valleys.
• Combine with the castle of Josselin, 30 minutes west.

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