Plouharnel - Crucuno circuit
Features of the route
Difficulty
Easy
Length
2h00
Distance
8.3km
Easy Yellow markers
The Crucuno dolmen is a Neolithic monument that has since lost its burial mound and access passage. The passageway was once described by W. Lukis (1864) as measuring 27 meters in length and is still visible in engravings from the early 19th century. Today, only two pillars of the passageway remain, along with the burial chamber, which is covered by an imposing slab estimated to weigh over 30 metric tons.
Starting point: Parking lot in the village of Kerarno
Take the path on the right, going around the pond. At the intersection, cross the road and take the path directly across from you. Continue straight ahead, then turn right at the next intersection.
At the next intersection, turn left and follow the path up to the Crucuno quadrangle, a megalithic enclosure now consisting of 22 menhirs, two of which are lying on their sides. Designated a Historic Monument in 1889, it was restored by Félix Gaillard during that same period. Gaillard erected and arranged the menhirs—which had previously been lying on the ground—to align them with the cardinal directions and ensure that the diagonals corresponded with the sunrise and sunset at the solstices.
Continue along the path and turn left toward Crucuno and its dolmen, one of the most iconic in the area. Take the path on the left, passing between two houses. Follow the trail for about 500 meters.
At the intersection, take the path on the right and continue to the Kergazec washhouse. At the washhouse, turn left and enjoy the historic architecture as you walk through the hamlet.
As you leave the village, take the path on the left at the intersection. Continue straight ahead for a few meters, then turn left to leave the loop and admire the Kergazec dolmen. This passage grave dates from between 4,300 and 3,800 B.C. and was restored by Zacharie Le Rouzic in 1935, then designated a Historic Monument in 1945.
Retrace your steps to rejoin the trail and continue straight ahead to the Saint-Antoine Chapel, built in the 18th century, which features a devotional fountain, a washhouse, a wayside cross, a calvary, and a lec’h. The figures of Saint Anthony and Saint Eloi, invoked to protect livestock and horses, are depicted inside on the stained-glass windows and statues.
Walk around the chapel, cross the road, and take the path directly across from it. Continue straight ahead on the path, then at the intersection ahead, turn toward the power station. At the next intersection, turn left past the isolated house, then left again to continue along the trail. Just before that, look to your right to see the stone alignment and mound of the Vieux Moulin.
At the next intersection, turn right and walk along the Varquez pond to the left. At the next intersection, take the path on the left that climbs toward the Mané Remor dolmens, which were severely damaged during the German occupation in World War II. At the highest point in the town, German troops had installed a relay antenna there, which they blew up—along with the megalithic tombs—as they retreated.
Retrace your steps, then take the trail on the left and follow it back up to the road. At the road, take the trail on the left and continue to the village of Kernevé. Cross through the village, then at the road, take the grassy trail immediately to the left to return to the parking lot.
Please note: during the winter months, the paths may be flooded. The trail is accessible from May through October.
Find this trail in the booklet “The Plouharnel Megalith Trail,” available at your local tourist offices and also downloadable as a PDF attached here.
The Crucuno dolmen is a Neolithic monument that has since lost its burial mound and access passage. The passageway was once described by W. Lukis (1864) as measuring 27 meters in length and is still visible in engravings from the early 19th century. Today, only two pillars of the passageway remain, along with the burial chamber, which is covered by an imposing slab estimated to weigh over 30 metric tons.
Starting point: Parking lot in the village of Kerarno
Take the path on the right, going around the pond. At the intersection, cross the road and take the path directly across from you. Continue straight ahead, then turn right at the next intersection.
At the next intersection, turn left and follow the path up to the Crucuno quadrangle, a megalithic enclosure now consisting of 22 menhirs, two of which are lying on their sides. Designated a Historic Monument in 1889, it was restored by Félix Gaillard during that same period. Gaillard erected and arranged the menhirs—which had previously been lying on the ground—to align them with the cardinal directions and ensure that the diagonals corresponded with the sunrise and sunset at the solstices.
Continue along the path and turn left toward Crucuno and its dolmen, one of the most iconic in the area. Take the path on the left, passing between two houses. Follow the trail for about 500 meters.
At the intersection, take the path on the right and continue to the Kergazec washhouse. At the washhouse, turn left and enjoy the historic architecture as you walk through the hamlet.
As you leave the village, take the path on the left at the intersection. Continue straight ahead for a few meters, then turn left to leave the loop and admire the Kergazec dolmen. This passage grave dates from between 4,300 and 3,800 B.C. and was restored by Zacharie Le Rouzic in 1935, then designated a Historic Monument in 1945.
Retrace your steps to rejoin the trail and continue straight ahead to the Saint-Antoine Chapel, built in the 18th century, which features a devotional fountain, a washhouse, a wayside cross, a calvary, and a lec’h. The figures of Saint Anthony and Saint Eloi, invoked to protect livestock and horses, are depicted inside on the stained-glass windows and statues.
Walk around the chapel, cross the road, and take the path directly across from it. Continue straight ahead on the path, then at the intersection ahead, turn toward the power station. At the next intersection, turn left past the isolated house, then left again to continue along the trail. Just before that, look to your right to see the stone alignment and mound of the Vieux Moulin.
At the next intersection, turn right and walk along the Varquez pond to the left. At the next intersection, take the path on the left that climbs toward the Mané Remor dolmens, which were severely damaged during the German occupation in World War II. At the highest point in the town, German troops had installed a relay antenna there, which they blew up—along with the megalithic tombs—as they retreated.
Retrace your steps, then take the trail on the left and follow it back up to the road. At the road, take the trail on the left and continue to the village of Kernevé. Cross through the village, then at the road, take the grassy trail immediately to the left to return to the parking lot.
Please note: during the winter months, the paths may be flooded. The trail is accessible from May through October.
Find this trail in the booklet “The Plouharnel Megalith Trail,” available at your local tourist offices and also downloadable as a PDF attached here.