Miroir aux Fées – Fairies’ Mirror
The Miroir aux Fées is a large lake nestled in the heart of the Forêt de Brocéliande, in the Val-Sans-Retour (Valley of No Return). We are here in the commune of Tréhorenteuc, La Porte du Dedans (the Gateway to the Inner World), the portal that leads us into Arthurian Legend.
The forest is so dense that the breeze never reaches the lake. Its surface, therefore, remains perfectly still and reflects the surrounding trees and sky like a mirror.
Legend has it that seven fairy sisters, who had sworn never to return to the surface during the day to avoid mortals, once inhabited this lake.
However, the youngest broke her vow and fell in love with a young knight who was hunting near the lake.
Her sisters eventually discovered his secret and set off in pursuit of the young man, whom they killed.
The young fairy soon discovered her sisters’ deception and used all her magic to punish them.
She slit their throats to collect some of their blood, which she mixed with her own, then threw them into the depths of the lake.
She then rushed over to the young man, poured some of this blood elixir into his mouth and revived him.
Her love for her knight was so strong that she renounced her magical powers to become mortal and left with him. The blood of her sisters continued to flow for seven days and seven nights; It flooded the surrounding woods and villages and stained the earth red. This legend perfectly explains the red colour of the local schist!
Rocher des Faux-Amants
The Val-Sans-Retour is also the domain of Morgan Le Fay, King Arthur’s half-sister. Merlin the Wizard initiated her into magic when he recognised her natural gift.
However, Morgan was not always wise and once used her magical powers to take revenge on a young man who had deceived her. She turned him and his companion to stone when she discovered them at the edge of the Miroir aux Fées. Their stone silhouettes, since known as the Rocher des Faux Amants (Rock of the False Lovers), forever dominate the lake.
But Morgan, betrayed and furious, was not satisfied with this punishment. She then cast a spell over the entire valley, transforming the paths into a labyrinth to prevent any faithless knights who ventured there from escaping…
Few dared to venture into the perilous Valley of No Return! Legend has it that the stag Cernunos guided the unfortunate knights through the enchanted forest. However, Lancelot of the Lake, the pure-hearted knight who remained loyal to Queen Guinevere, broke the spell and freed them.
Discover the other magical sites in the Forêt de Brocéliande
Tombeau de Merlin, 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, 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: Leave Tréhorenteuc on the D141 towards Le Vieux Quily and turn left shortly after exiting the village onto a small car park. Directions are well indicated and you have to walk along the farm track following the brook Ruisseau du Gué de Mony. Walking shoes compulsory.
Coordinates Miroir aux Fées: Lat 48.000804 – Long -2.286401
