guide
What to do in Carnac? Famous the world over for its thousands of aligned menhirs, this small town in Morbihan is also a family seaside resort, with long stretches of fine sand facing Quiberon Bay. Since July 2025, its megaliths have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
From prehistory and beaches to bike rides and trips to Quiberon or the Gulf of Morbihan, here are our ideas for visits and activities, along with the campsites where you can stay on site.
| Information | In brief |
|---|---|
| Not to be missed | The Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan alignments |
| Heritage | Megaliths listed by UNESCO in July 2025 |
| Beaches | Grande plage, the beaches of Légenèse, Saint-Colomban and Beaumer |
| Good to know | Free access to part of the alignments from October to the end of March |
| Nearby | Quiberon peninsula, La Trinité-sur-Mer, Gulf of Morbihan |
| Recommended length of stay | Two to three days |
The Carnac alignments form one of the largest megalithic complexes in the world: nearly 3,000 menhirs raised several millennia ago, set out in rows over several kilometres. The three main groups are Ménec, Kermario and Kerlescan, linked by a path you can follow on foot or by bike.
To protect the site, the inside of the alignments is fenced off. From April to September, you can only enter on a guided tour, booking advised, while the path running alongside them stays open. From October to the end of March, access to certain plots is free of charge: the best time to stroll among the stones.
Start at the Maison des Mégalithes, opposite the Ménec alignments, to understand the site and book a guided tour.
On 12 July 2025, the megaliths of Carnac and the shores of the Morbihan were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It is the first Breton site to receive this distinction. The inscribed property covers more than 550 sites between Quiberon Bay and the Gulf of Morbihan: alignments, dolmens, burial mounds and stone enclosures, erected between the 5th and 3rd millennium BC.
Around Carnac, do not miss the Saint-Michel tumulus, an artificial hill topped with a chapel, nor the Géant du Manio, a menhir of over 6 metres hidden in the woods. The Musée de Préhistoire in the town centre displays objects found in the tombs and dolmens of the region.
Carnac-Plage stretches along Quiberon Bay, sheltered from the ocean swell: calm water, ideal for children. The Grande plage, lined by the boulevard de la plage, is the liveliest, with its beach clubs and sailing schools. Further west, the beaches of Légenèse, Saint-Colomban and Beaumer are quieter.
The salt pans and the Étang du Loc’h, behind the seafront, offer pleasant walks for birdwatching.
Carnac is an excellent base for exploring southern Morbihan. A few minutes away, La Trinité-sur-Mer is a renowned sailing port. The Quiberon peninsula and its wild coast are twenty minutes away, and you can take a ferry from there to Belle-Île-en-Mer. To the east, the Gulf of Morbihan and its islands, including the Île aux Moines and the Île d’Arz, are best discovered by boat from Vannes, Locmariaquer or Port-Navalo.
To go further, read our article what to do in Morbihan.
Our selection includes numerous campsites with a water park in southern Morbihan. At Erdeven, about ten minutes from Carnac, camping La Croix Villieu has a heated indoor pool at 30 degrees, a large outdoor pool with a water slide, paddling pools and a spa area, so you can enjoy the water whatever the weather. In Carnac itself, camping Le Rosnual gives easy access to the alignments and the beaches in a few minutes.
Carnac combines, in a rare way, a prehistoric site of world significance with a family seaside resort. Come in spring or autumn to enjoy the alignments in peace, book your guided tour in summer, and keep a day for Quiberon or the Gulf of Morbihan. For families, a campsite with a nearby indoor pool guarantees a successful holiday even when the Breton weather misbehaves.
Campsites marked “Partner” are Aimer Camper members and are shown first. All results match your search.
