Few towns are immediately associated with a site, but Carnac certainly is. Its alignments and famous menhirs speak to your traveller's imagination.
A small commune in the south of Morbihan, Brittany, Carnac is made up of distinct districts.
In the Breton countryside, you'll find the market town of Carnac, surrounded by its famous megalithic alignments.
But the small town also boasts the seaside resort of Carnac Plage and no fewer than 5 beautiful beaches.
Finally, to complete this idyllic picture, take the time to make a diversion to the small oyster-farming port of Le Pô and fill up on the sea air!
When it comes to activities, the choice is almost limitless!
So whether you like water sports, hiking or cycling, you'll be spoilt for choice!
The centre of Carnac, known as Carnac bourg, is home to a beautiful Gothic church. The church of Saint-Cornély, built in the centre of the town in the 17th century, is well worth a visit.
Note the painted wooden vaults of this beautiful building.
Then, after a good crêpe, set off to discover the nearby megalithic sites!
The town has 3 main alignments containing no fewer than 3,000 menhirs:
- Alignements de Kermario
- Alignments of Ménec
- Alignments de Kerlescan
In summer, you'll need to book a guided tour. He'll tell you all sorts of interesting **notes **about these sites, which are so spectacular they're famous the world over!
To learn more about the menhirs, visit the Carnac Prehistory Museum in the centre of Carnac!
Finally, after all these discoveries, enjoy yourself!
It couldn't be easier: head for the thalassotherapy centre in Carnac. You'll have a choice of à la carte treatments, so you can look forward to a truly relaxing time!
If you want to explore the area around Carnac, choose between cycling or hiking!
Discover the small fishing port of Le Pô.
As well as the iodised sea air, the site is perfect for discovering oyster farming!
Oyster-farming tours are available from April to September. Find out more at the Carnac Tourist Office.
As a bonus, you'll be able to taste delicious oysters of incomparable freshness! The producers will be delighted to introduce you to these marvels of the sea. You can also order a seafood platter.
Take advantage of your walk to discover the 5 beaches of Carnac, all different and offering beautiful ribbons of white sand:
- Saint-Colomban beach
- Ty Bihan beach
- Légenèse Beach
- Carnac Beach
- Beaumer Beach
Finally, not far from Carnac lies the port of La Trinité-sur-Mer. Located less than 5 kilometres from Carnac, La Trinité is more of a yachting town, with a particular focus on sailing.
In fact, it is one of the busiest marinas in Brittany. You can see this for yourself by strolling along the jetty.
The spectacle of the sailboats is non-stop!
After all this fun, there's nothing like enjoying a seafood platter. The specialities here are prawns and Carnac oysters.
So don't waste any more time, come and take a breath of sea air and discover this small town and its famous menhirs. Bon voyage!
Last articles
Top hotels in Carnac
2 days cycling from Carnac to La Trinité-Sur-Mer
The oysters of Anse du Pô
The must-sees
How to get there?
The nearest SNCF station to Carnac is Auray, 15 kilometres away. There are several TGV trains departing from Paris every day in summer.
Buses run from Auray station to Carnac.
If you're coming by car, Paris is less than 500 kilometres away (just under 5 hours' drive). Brittany's motorways are well maintained and free of charge!
Carnac is also accessible by air from Lorient, Rennes and Nantes airports.
Where to stay?
Carnac offers a wide choice of accommodation. Hotels, bed and breakfasts, rental accommodation and campsites will meet all your requirements.
During the summer months, however, there is less choice, as visitor numbers are at their highest. So book as early as possible. As a bonus, you'll benefit from preferential rates!
Practical information
Carnac key figures:
Surface area: the town covers an area of almost 33 km².
Population: 4,200 in 2015
Public transport:
Free shuttle buses run between the town and Carnac's beaches in summer.
Please note that parking charges apply in the town and along the beaches in summer. A number of car parks are available. If you want to park easily, come early!
Come and discover the town and its surroundings out of season. As is often the case from October onwards, visitor numbers drop sharply.
As a bonus, the menhirs here are accessible free of charge, and walking around these behemoths on a foggy day is a rare moment to be enjoyed in peace and quiet - a real treat!
explore Try out our comparators
It is Easy to travel