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 at a Glance#
Address: La Roche-aux-Fées, near Essé / Bazouges-la-Pérouse, Ille‑et‑Vilaine, Brittany, France
Website: https://www.bretagne.com/en/ (regional tourism; site information varies)
Hours: Open 24 hours (outdoor site)
Admission: Free (outdoor archaeological site)
About La Roche-aux-Fées#
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).
| Month | Comfort | Temp | Feels | Rain | Sky | Humidity | Wind | UV | Daylight |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| January | Poor | 2° - 8° | 2° | 73 mm | overcast | 93% | 3.9 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.8h |
| February | Acceptable | 2° - 9° | 3° | 64 mm | overcast | 88% | 3.9 m/s | 0.2 low | 10.1h |
| March | Acceptable | 4° - 12° | 5° | 58 mm | overcast | 84% | 4.0 m/s | 0.5 moderate | 11.8h |
| April | Good | 5° - 14° | 7° | 57 mm | partly cloudy | 80% | 3.9 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 13.5h |
| May | Good | 9° - 18° | 13° | 67 mm | overcast | 79% | 3.6 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.9h |
| June | Very Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 47 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.7h |
| July | Excellent | 13° - 24° | 19° | 40 mm | partly cloudy | 75% | 3.5 m/s | 1.6 very high | 15.3h |
| August | Very Good | 13° - 24° | 19° | 60 mm | partly cloudy | 76% | 3.2 m/s | 1.3 high | 14.1h |
| September | Very Good | 11° - 21° | 16° | 56 mm | partly cloudy | 78% | 3.2 m/s | 0.9 moderate | 12.4h |
| October | Good | 8° - 16° | 12° | 73 mm | overcast | 86% | 3.3 m/s | 0.4 low | 10.7h |
| November | Acceptable | 5° - 11° | 6° | 93 mm | overcast | 91% | 3.4 m/s | 0.2 low | 9.2h |
| December | Poor | 3° - 9° | 3° | 72 mm | overcast | 93% | 3.8 m/s | 0.1 low | 8.3h |