Megaliths Festival & Heritage Days

Megaliths in Celebration – September 19, 20 and 21, 2025

Three festive days to celebrate UNESCO inscription!

It’s official: the megaliths of Carnac and the shores of the Morbihan are now part of the UNESCO World Heritage List, a milestone for Brittany’s ancient stones and those who protect them. Join a creative, family-friendly weekend filled with concerts, a 500-drone light show, poetic walkabouts, prehistoric workshops, nature outings and games for all ages. There’s truly something for everyone.

Friday, September 19 in Arzon – A magical evening at the Petit Mont cairn

From 6 pm, wander around the illuminated cairn in a dreamlike atmosphere: roaming performers, live music and legendary tales bring this headland to life by the sea breeze.

Expect jugglers, musicians, dancers on stilts, a live outdoor concert, storytelling around the megaliths, face painting for children, plus on-site food trucks and refreshments.

Free evening with advance booking required, subject to availability. 

cairn du petit mont - arzon © alexandre lamoureux

Saturday, September 20 in Carnac – A vibrant, open-air community celebration

The heart of the weekend beats at the Tumulus Saint-Michel and the temporary “Megaliths Village,” free and open to all—just minutes from Carnac’s beaches and coastal paths.

Hands-on zones include Neolithic pottery, engraving, jewelry making, block-moving, ropework and virtual reality, alongside giant games, a photobooth, archery, face painting, quizzes and exhibitions.

Street arts and walkabouts with korrigans and stilt performers keep the magic flowing.

Music & highlights

• 7 pm: Bagadoù from Carnac, Landaul, Locoal-Mendon and Lann-Bihoué set the tone with powerful Breton pipes and drums.
• 8 pm: Swing dance party with Feet J and the dancers of Swing 56—perfect for families and friends.
• 9:30 pm: A breathtaking 500-drone light show paints the sky above the megalithic landscape.
• 10 pm: Electro‑Celtic concert with Aroze to dance late into the night.
   

Food & chill zones

Eight food trucks, two pop-up restaurateurs and an artisanal ice-cream stand to savor local flavors, with a refreshment bar run by local parents’ associations. Come hungry, stay happy.

alignements de carnac © simon bourcier

Sunday, September 21 – Explore the megaliths differently across Auray Quiberon Terre Atlantique and Golfe du Morbihan – Vannes Agglomeration

Take time to discover this unique heritage from land, sea and sky.

On land: more than 20 marked routes on foot, by bike, Segway or tourist train, plus treasure hunts, storytelling walks, Qi Gong, a “murder party” and coastal path outings.

On the water: guided cruises in the Gulf of Morbihan, kayaking or paddle routes from Auray, Saint‑Philibert, Baden and Larmor‑Baden.

In the air: tethered hot‑air balloon flights above the Carnac alignments (15‑minute static ascents to be won via competitions). 

Full program and practical info: megalithesenfete.com.

UNESCO World Heritage inscription: a shared pride

To see these age‑old stones join icons like the Great Wall, the Pyramids or the Great Barrier Reef is both humbling and thrilling—the result of over a decade of dedication by communities, residents, researchers and enthusiasts.

With more than 550 megalithic sites recognized, it’s time to celebrate a landscape shaped over 7,000 years ago—together, and in style

European Heritage Days

Activities and special visits across Southern Morbihan on September 20–21

The European Heritage Days return in 2025: the perfect moment to step inside places steeped in history, often free of charge for one exceptional weekend.

Throughout Morbihan, monuments, museums and emblematic sites come alive with guided tours, workshops, exhibitions and inspiring encounters—from prehistory to the present day.

Mark the dates: September 20–21, 2025.

Ideas for visits by area:

Baie de Quiberon :

• Carnac : Prehistory Museum and guided visits among the megalithic alignments, a short ride from the shoreline.
• Quiberon : Port Haliguen’s old lighthouse, fishing port tour, Notre Dame de Locmaria church, chapels Saint‑Clément and Saint‑Julien, Ragot gardens with historic washhouse, local heritage house.
• Plouharnel : Le Bégo site (bunker‑museum), chapels Sainte‑Barbe and Notre‑Dame des Fleurs, abbeys Sainte‑Anne and Saint‑Michel de Kergonan.
• Locmariaquer : world‑class megalithic sites at the gateway to the Gulf.
• Saint Philibert : Kernevest lighthouse and oyster‑farming heritage along sheltered inlets.

Pays d'Auray :

• Auray :Cadoudal Mausoleum, Chapelle du Saint‑Esprit (former royal prison), Saint‑Gildas church, Saint‑Cado chapel, and the postcard‑perfect port of Saint‑Goustan.
• Sainte Anne d'Auray : basilica, cloister gallery, the grand organ and the Academy of Sacred Arts and Music.
• Baden : charming “Musée des Passions et des Ailes” for curiosity lovers.
• Le Bono : exhibitions and outings aboard the traditional sailing boat Le Forban.
• Brech : écomusée de Saint Dégan and Chapelle Saint‑Quirin for a deep dive into rural heritage.
• Plumelec : the discreet and elegant Château de Callac.

port de saint goustan © alexandre lamoureux

Golfe du Morbihan :

• Larmor-Baden : the extraordinary Gavrinis cairn, famed for its Neolithic engravings.
• Vannes : medieval center and ramparts, La Cohue fine arts museum, prefecture and departmental archives.
• Arzon - Rhuys Peninsula: the Petit Mont cairn, a clifftop lookout over sea and stone. 
• Sarzeau :  Suscinio castel and Kerlévénan’s castel with landscaped park near sheltered beaches.

Ria d'Etel - Pays de Lorient :

• Port-Louis :the National Navy Museum within the citadel, plus the engaging Compagnie des Indes Museum
• Etel : the Thoniers Museum celebrating tuna‑fishing heritage and sailor know‑how. 
• Belz : the islet hamlet of Saint‑Cado, a timeless postcard at golden hour.
• Lorient :  submarine base, Cité de la Voile, and the Flore submarine museum for a maritime immersion.  

remparts de vannes © alexandre lamoureux