Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans
MonumentHidden Treasure
Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans, located in Quéven (Département 56), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Quéven, Département 56, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.7992, -3.4164
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00091603
An exceptional Neolithic cairn in Brittany, the Trou des Chouans contains two corridor dolmens hidden beneath an imposing dry-stone tumulus, a rare example of Morbihan funerary architecture.
History
In the heart of Morbihan, this megalithic cairn known by the evocative name of "Trou des Chouans" is one of the most striking examples of Neolithic funerary architecture in inland Brittany. Unlike the menhirs that dot the surrounding moors, this monument stands out for its double chamber: two corridor dolmens coexist under the same cairn, a relatively rare configuration that gives it outstanding archaeological and symbolic value. The cairn - a term used to describe a burial mound made not of earth but of carefully stacked stones - forms an imposing mass in the landscape of Quéven, a commune in the Morbihan department near Lorient. This dry-stone architecture, built without any binding material, bears witness to remarkable building skills mastered over five millennia ago. The two access corridors, cut into the mass of the cairn, each lead to a sepulchral chamber where the bones of the deceased were deposited during collective rites. Visiting the site is a particularly immersive experience: approaching the monument means physically measuring the scale of the Neolithic project. The slabs of local granite, some weighing several tonnes, have been assembled with a precision that defies the centuries. The half-light of the corridors and the silent atmosphere of the site invite a form of contemplation that transcends the millennia. The natural setting reinforces this impression of a journey through time. Nestling in a typical Morbihan inland woodland setting, far from the tourist hustle and bustle of the Gulf of Morbihan, the Trou des Chouans can be visited in almost absolute tranquillity. It's a monument for the curious and demanding, those who prefer authentic discovery to sites overrun with visitors. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1977, its protection guarantees that it will be preserved for future generations, even if its relative discretion keeps it off the main tourist routes - a considerable advantage for the enlightened amateur.
Architecture
The Trou des Chouans belongs to the family of cairns with multiple chambers, an architectural type characteristic of the Armorican Middle Neolithic. The structure consists of a mass of dry stone - probably local granite quarried from a short distance away - forming an elongated tumulus beneath which are two independent funerary structures: two 'corridor' dolmens, each with a long access corridor leading to a burial chamber covered with monumental slabs. This bipartite plan, relatively rare in the region, clearly distinguishes the monument from the single-chamber cairns more common in Morbihan. The construction follows the technical principles typical of Atlantic megalithic architecture. The orthostats (vertical slabs) delimiting the corridors and chambers are made of solid granite blocks, which are pulled into place using levers before being covered by the horizontal covering tables. The whole structure is then enveloped and supported by the stone cairn, whose mass stabilises the structure and gives it its characteristic elongated mound silhouette. The length of the cairn is estimated at several dozen metres, in line with the usual proportions of similar monuments in the département. The orientation of the passageways, probably in the direction of the rising or setting sun during the solstices or equinoxes, is not precisely documented for this site, but is a recurring feature of the corridor dolmens of Morbihan, where the penetration of light into the chamber at precise astronomical moments seems to have been intentional. The materials used are entirely local, anchoring the monument in both its geology and its territory.
Related Figures
Bâtisseurs néolithiques anonymes (vers 4000-3500 av. J.-C.) — communautés agricoles du Morbihan intérieur ayant organisé la construction collective du cairnChouans morbihannais (1793-1799) — insurgés royalistes qui auraient utilisé les chambres du cairn comme refuge durant les guerres de Vendée et de ChouannerieProsper Mérimée (1803-1870) — inspecteur des Monuments Historiques qui contribua à l'inventaire et à la protection des mégalithes bretons au XIXe siècleRené Galles (1820-1882) — archéologue vannetais pionnier de l'étude des monuments mégalithiques du Morbihan, dont les travaux concernèrent de nombreux sites similaires de la région
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans located?
Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans is located in Quéven, Département 56 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans open to visitors?
Cairn mégalithique à deux dolmens à couloir, dit Le Trou des Chouans is currently closed to visitors.