Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes, located in Saint-Broladre (Département 35), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Saint-Broladre, Département 35, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.5717, -1.6894
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090765
A mysterious hemicycle of raised stones, the Tombes de Saint-Broladre have watched over the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel for five thousand years - a rare megalithic arch that still defies archaeologists.
History
In the heart of the commune of Saint-Broladre, on the borders of Ille-et-Vilaine and just a few kilometres from the Bay of Mont-Saint-Michel, stands a megalithic complex of exceptional configuration: a hemicycle, in other words a semi-circular arrangement of menhirs and slabs, known locally by the evocative name of Les Tombes. This Neolithic site, which has been protected as a Historic Monument since 1966, belongs to the long-standing Breton tradition of staging rough stone, but is distinguished by its particularly structured geometry. Where most Breton alignments display their monumentality in rectilinear lines - as at Carnac or Erdeven - the hemicycle of Les Tombes articulates its blocks in an open arch, suggesting a precise spatial intention. This semi-circular shape, rare for the region, could indicate a ritual or funerary function linked to the demarcation of a sacred space, or even the celebration of astronomical cycles. The stones, made of local sandstone in shades of ochre and grey, have withstood erosion for thousands of years and retain an imposing presence in the hedged landscape. To visit Les Tombes is to experience an inhabited solitude: the site is set in an unspoilt rural environment, far from major tourist flows, which accentuates the atmosphere of contemplation that naturally emanates from such places. Here we can see the hand of organised Neolithic societies, capable of mobilising considerable human resources to erect these monoliths and arrange them with care. The site's uniqueness is further enhanced by its geographical setting. Saint-Broladre is located in Upper Brittany, in the transition zone between the Breton heartland and the marches of Normandy, an area whose megalithic heritage is often overlooked in favour of the great sites of Morbihan. Yet Ille-et-Vilaine is home to a string of remarkable monuments, and Les Tombes is one of its most discreet jewels.
Architecture
The hemicycle of the Tombs features a semi-circular arrangement of megalithic blocks whose geometric coherence is striking at first glance. Unlike the parallel rows of Carnacean type, the arch here describes an open half-moon plan, probably oriented along a significant astronomical axis - east-west or towards the summer solstice, as is frequently the case for Breton monuments from this period. The upright stones, of varying heights - between one and two metres for the best preserved - are made from a local siliceous sandstone with hues ranging from sandy beige to bluish grey, depending on exposure to the elements. The number of monoliths still standing testifies to their respectable state of preservation, given the age of the monument and the pressures of centuries of farming. Some of the blocks have a significant buried base, a sign that they have been carefully anchored in the silty soil of the region, a technique that guarantees the stability of the whole structure in the face of cycles of freezing and thawing. The regular spacing between the stones suggests a measuring module, perhaps linked to a unit of length specific to Neolithic builders, comparable to the 'megalithic metre' identified by some researchers at other Atlantic sites. There are no apparent petroglyphic engravings on the surface of the blocks, in contrast to some Armorican megaliths decorated with polished axes, crooks or spirals. The aesthetics of the ensemble are based entirely on the balance of power between the raw minerality of the stones and the open horizon of the Breton countryside, creating a timeless dialogue between man's work and the landscape.
Related Figures
Communautés néolithiques de Haute-Bretagne (bâtisseurs, ~3500-2500 av. J.-C.)Érudits de la Société archéologique d'Ille-et-Vilaine (inventaire XIXe siècle)Prosper Mérimée (inspecteur général des Monuments historiques, initiateur des premières protections mégalithiques en France)
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes located?
Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes is located in Saint-Broladre, Département 35 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes open to visitors?
Hemicycle mégalithique dit Les Tombes is currently closed to visitors.