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 | |
 .svg.png){kind=icon} Shown within France | |
| Alternative name | The Fairies' Rock |
|---|---|
| Location | Brittany |
| Region | France |
| Coordinates | 47.93639°N 1.40472°W |
| Type | Dolmen |
| History | |
| Periods | Neolithic |
Description
The tomb is one 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]
References
- Barbour, Philippe (2005). Brittany. New Holland. p. 87. ISBN 1860111424.
- Ardagh, John (1985). The Penguin Guide to France. Penguin. p. 98.
- Yates, Dorian (2009). Green Earth Guide: Traveling Naturally in France. North Atlantic. p. 111. ISBN 1556438060.
External links
