Merlin the Wizard and the Fairy Vivian
The Tombeau de Merlin (Tomb of Merlin the Enchanter), an emblematic figure of Celtic mythology, is nestled in a small, peaceful clearing on the north side of the Forêt de Brocéliande.
Merlin indeed occupies a unique place in the pantheon of legends, heir to Druidic traditions and at the threshold of the world of mortals and of the gods. Known by a multitude of titles and roles, he embodies wisdom, magic, and mystery in various forms.
He is thus famous for his many powers: Merlin the Master of Time, Merlin the Hermit, Merlin and the Cult of Cernunnos, Merlin the Bard, Merlin the Enchanter whose powers surpass comprehension, a central figure in Arthurian tradition and founder of the Round Table, and Merlin the Lover of the Fairy Vivian, the Lady of the Lake.
That said, he is also known for his tumultuous relationship with the Vivian. The legend indeed tells of Vivian’s passionate love for Merlin, and how she bewitched him to retain him forever. After seducing him and plunging him into a deep sleep, she carried him away in a cloud and imprisoned him in an air tomb sealed by two massive stones.
Even today, it is said that the spirit of Merlin wanders in the ancestral woods of Brocéliande, his presence hovering among the whispers of the wind and the rustling of leaves and in the depth of Merlin’s Tomb.
Tombeau de Merlin
The Tombeau de Merlin, though shrouded in legend, is quite real!
In 1820, Mr Poignant, a judge at the Court of Montfort, stumbled upon a row of megaliths nestled in the heart of the forest. Convinced of the existence of Merlin the Enchanter, he decided that these ancient megaliths marked his tomb and named it ‘Tombeau de Merlin’. Unfortunately, this discovery attracted the attention of grave robbers who descended upon the site, vandalising and looting it over the following months.
It wasn’t until 1889 that the archaeologist Félix Bellamy undertook controlled excavations that finally uncovered the myth of the Tombeau de Merlin. He indeed determined that the megaliths were once part of a Neolithic-era gallery burial chamber and not, much to Mr. Poignant’s dismay, the tomb of the legendary magician.
Further excavations revealed that the site originally comprised two galleries, the first of which had long-disappeared. In respect of the enduring legends of Merlin and Vivian, Bellamy symbolically named this vanished gallery Tombeau de Viviane (Viviane’s Tomb), thus preserving the legend.
Despite its advanced state of ruin, Merlin’s Tomb still retained some stones: six square blocks of red schist still defined three of its sides, but the capstones had almost entirely disappeared. This imposing t10.5m-long and 1.5-m-wide tomb was certainly that of a high-ranking individual!
The Tombeau de Merlin was restored in 2008. Three stones were replaced in its centre, and the ring of flat stones surrounding it was re-erected. Other megaliths were found scattered around the perimeter, suggesting the presence of a magic circle. Whatever it may be, whether it is Merlin’s tomb or a burial chamber whose origins are lost to time, the Tombeau de Merlin is an exceptional monument that has managed to keep its mystery.
Discover the magical Forêt de Brocéliande the other sites
Fontaine de Jouvence, Chêne des Hindrés, Château de Comper, Chêne d’Eon or Chêne à Guillotin, Fontaine de Barenton, Jardin aux Moines, Eglise du Graal in Tréhorenteuc, Miroir aux Fées and Arbre d’Or in the Val Sans Retour, Hostié de Viviane or Tombeau des Druides, Tombeau des Géants ou Roche à la Vieille, Abbey of Paimpont, Forges de Paimpont and Pierres Droites
Department of Ille-et-Vilaine
Directions: At the junction of D71 and D59, by the hamlet of La Ville Moisan and Etang de la Marette. Follow the country lane (D2) until you reach a small car park where the path leading to the site originates. Walking shoes compulsory.
Coordinates: Lat 48.080414 – Long -2.110255
