Merlin the Wizard and the Fairy Vivian
The Tombeau de Merlin the Wizard, a figure steeped in Celtic mythology, is nestled within a tranquil clearing in the northern reaches of the Forêt de Brocéliande.
Merlin indeed occupies a unique position in the pantheon of legends, serving as the inheritor of Druidic traditions and straddling the realms between mortals and deities. Known by a multitude of titles and roles, he embodies various aspects of wisdom, magic, and mystery and is therefore known for his many powers:
Merlin the Master of Time, Merlin the Hermit, Merlin and the worship of Cernunnos, Merlin the Bard, Merlin the Wizard whose powers transcend mortal understanding, the pivotal figure in the Arthurian tradition and the founder of the Round Table, and Merlin the Lover of the Fairy Vivian and Lady of the Lake.
Yet, it is Merlin’s tumultuous relationship with the Fairy Vivian, the Lady of the Lake, that imbues the Tombeau de Merlin with an air of melancholy. Legend indeed tells of Vivian’s desperate love for Merlin, her enchantments weaving a spell to bind him to her forever. After seducing him and lulling him into a deep slumber, she spirited him away in a cloud, entombing him within a tomb of air sealed by two massive stones.
To this day, Merlin’s spirit is said to wander the ancient groves of Brocéliande, his presence lingering amidst the whispers of the wind and the rustle of the leaves. And in the quiet solitude of the Tombeau de Merlin, one can still sense the echoes of his timeless tale, woven into the very fabric of the forest’s enchantment.
Tombeau de Merlin
The Tombeau de Merlin, while steeped in legend, finds its origins rooted in the tangible discoveries of the 19th century. In 1820, Mr. Poignant, a Judge at the Court of Montfort, stumbled upon an alignment of megaliths nestled deep within the forest’s embrace. Driven by a fervent belief in the existence of Merlin the Wizard, Mr. Poignant proclaimed this alignment to be the tomb of the legendary figure, christening it the Tombeau de Merlin.
Tragically, Mr. Poignant’s declaration stirred the interest of treasure hunters, who descended upon the site with destructive intent, vandalizing and looting its ancient stones in the months that followed. It was a devastating blow to both the integrity of the site and Mr. Poignant’s vision of honoring Merlin’s memory.
However, the truth behind the Tombeau de Merlin was revealed years later through the meticulous efforts of archaeologist Felix Bellamy. In 1889, Bellamy indeed conducted professional excavations, uncovering the reality behind the myth. The Tombeau de Merlin, he determined, was a gallery-grave type burial chamber constructed during the Neolithic period. Bellamy’s findings painted a picture of ancient funerary practices rather than the fantastical resting place of a legendary wizard.
Further exploration revealed that the site originally comprised two galleries, with no visible vestiges remaining of the first. In a nod to the enduring tales of Merlin and the Lady of the Lake, Bellamy symbolically named this absent gallery the Tombeau de Viviane, preserving the intertwined legends of Brocéliande for generations to come.
Despite being in an advanced state of ruin, the Tombeau de Merlin still retained a few stones. Six square blocks of red schist persisted, outlining three of its sides, while the cover slabs had all but succumbed to time’s relentless march.Measured at 10.50 meters in length and 1.50 meters in width, the tomb’s imposing dimensions spoke of its significance in antiquity.
In 2008, efforts to restore the site saw the installation of three replacement stones at its center, encircled by a ring of flat stones. Other megaliths, dispersed around the perimeter, evoked the mystique of a magical circle or cromlech, imbuing the Tombeau de Merlin with an aura of ancient power and 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
