La Roche-aux-Fées
Tomb Large prehistoric stone dolmen in Brittany
Megalithic passage tomb on the Brittany plain, featuring a long stone corridor and burial chamber; attracts visitors interested in prehistoric monuments and Bronze/Iron Age archaeology.
La Roche-aux-Fées is a large Neolithic gallery grave (dolmen) in Brittany, northwest France, notable for its long covered passage and state of preservation. It dates from the late Neolithic period and is a significant megalithic monument in the region.
The monument consists of a long stone chamber formed from upright orthostats capped by horizontal slabs and was used as a collective burial structure in prehistory. Its scale and preservation make it a key example of megalithic funerary architecture.
Built several millennia ago during the Neolithic, the site has been known and recorded since at least the 18th century and has been a subject of archaeological interest and local preservation efforts. It stands today in an agricultural landscape and is managed as an accessible heritage site.
La Roche-aux-Fées sits in rural Ille-et-Vilaine in Brittany, near small villages and country roads; the site is reached by local roads and short walks from nearby parking areas.
- Age and type: The monument is a long Neolithic covered gallery grave dating to the late 4th or early 3rd millennium BC and is one of the most complete of its type in northwestern France.
- Access and visit: The site is easily accessible on foot and is set in open countryside, making daylight visits preferable to see the interior passage clearly.
How to Get to La Roche-aux-Fées #
By car from Rennes: follow the N157 and D163 toward Bazouges-la-Pérouse/Essé (about 40-50 minutes). There is a small parking area beside the field; the dolmen is a short walk from the road. Regional buses serve nearby towns but schedules are infrequent-driving is easiest.
Tips for Visiting La Roche-aux-Fées #
- Visit at sunrise or late afternoon for soft light on the capstones and to avoid daytime chill/wind.
- Approach using the rural lanes rather than the main road-there is a small layby and interpretive sign; parking is very limited.
- Respect the stones: they are fragile and some parts are fenced off; don't climb on capstones.
Best Time to Visit La Roche-aux-Fées #
Best spring and autumn for light, fewer visitors, and good countryside walking; the dolmen is outdoors and accessible year-round.
Weather & Climate near La Roche-aux-Fées #
La Roche-aux-Fées's climate is classified as Oceanic - Oceanic climate with mild summers (peaking in July) and cold winters (coldest in January). Temperatures range from 2°C to 24°C. Moderate rainfall (760 mm/year).
January
January is the coolest month with highs of 8°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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February
February is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 2°C. Moderate rainfall (64 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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March
March is cold with highs of 12°C and lows of 4°C. Moderate rainfall (58 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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April
April is cold with highs of 14°C and lows of 5°C. Moderate rainfall (57 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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May
May is cool with highs of 18°C and lows of 9°C. Moderate rainfall (67 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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June
June is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (47 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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July
July is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (40 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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August
August is the warmest month with highs of 24°C and lows of 13°C. Moderate rainfall (60 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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September
September is cool with highs of 21°C and lows of 11°C. Moderate rainfall (56 mm) and partly cloudy skies.
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October
October is cool with highs of 16°C and lows of 8°C. Moderate rainfall (73 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
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November
November is cold with highs of 11°C and lows of 5°C. The wettest month with 93 mm of rain and mostly overcast skies.
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December
December is cold with highs of 9°C and lows of 3°C. Moderate rainfall (72 mm) and mostly overcast skies.
