Tales and Legends from the Brocéliande Forest | EUROtoday

There are locations so atmospheric that tales and legends are born out of the panorama. The Brocéliande forest is one such place, full with mist-shrouded lakes and spooky castles.

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Lake of Vivien, girl of the lake

Long related to the Arthurian legends, Merlin, Morgan le Fay and the Lady of the Lake all make an look in what’s now referred to as the forest of Paimpont in Brittany. In the Valley of No-Return, Morgan le Fay, livid at discovering her lover with one other, is claimed to have forged a spell on all untrue males who entered the forest, trapping them for eternity. Only Lancelot along with his pure coronary heart might break the spell, however beware fashionable vacationers – who is aware of if the enchantress nonetheless wields energy?

Other vengeful fairies are additionally at massive in a lake whose waters have been ‘white and clear as silver’ – however it’s unclear what type their vengeance takes.

In the north of the forest, subsequent to the Château de Comper, lies one other stretch of water, house to the extra benign Lady of the Lake. She lives under the waters in a crystal palace constructed by Merlin. The palace isn’t seen to mere mortals however trying throughout the nonetheless waters it’s straightforward to think about ‘an arm clothed in white samite, mystic, great’ reaching as much as catch Arthur’s sword Excalibur. The fortress now homes the middle of the Arthurian Imagination, bringing to life tales of the Round Table and legends of the forest by the use of exhibitions, workshops and storytelling. A stroll by means of the atmospheric forest within the firm of a storyteller is gasoline for the creativeness, and celebrations of the Celtic seasons of Beltaine and Samhain reinforce connections with the pure world.

Chateau de Comper previous gateway

Towards the south of the forest is the intriguing chapel of the Holy Grail – right here abbot Henri Gillard, an unconventional Catholic priest, reconstructed the village church with the assistance of two German prisoners of battle, and adorned it with work and stained-glass home windows by commissioned artists. The chapel’s originality – and allure – lies within the mingling of Christian, Celtic and Brocéliande traditions. Thus, one window depicts Arthur and his knights trying upwards on the Holy Grail, the stations of the Cross have Brocéliande as their background, and animals of the forest and even Morgan le Fay make an look.

Just because the forest has impressed the creativeness, megalithic stones and outcrops of rock have acquired their very own legends. A schist rock veined with quartz is Merlin’s seat and a neolithic web site surrounded by twelve red-schist rocks is named the Druids’ tomb. The Druids have been additionally busy on the Fountain of Youth meting out rejuvenating powers – all that was wanted was to show up at midnight barefoot on the day of the summer season solstice, drink a bowl of pure fountain water – oh, and to have lived a lifetime of perfection!

Trees too have their tales. The oak of the Eon streets (typically known as the Guillotin oak) measuring 10 meters spherical, is between 800 and 1000 years previous. Its declare to fame is as a hiding place for a cache of gold hidden by the forest’s very personal Robin Hood, Eon de l’Etoile, and for a defiant priest who escaped the guillotine by hiding inside its huge trunk.

But the spookiest of all of the locations within the forest is presumably the medieval Trécesson fortresstypically claimed to be essentially the most haunted fortress in France. The most chilling of the tales is that of the White Lady – one evening a poacher was disturbed by the sound of a carriage stopping shut by, and to his horror noticed a younger girl dressed all in white (seemingly a bridal robe) being buried alive. The poacher ran for assist, however, alas, he was too late.

The veil and headdress could be seen at the moment within the chapel – and so they do invoke a shiver or two. One of the bedrooms within the fortress is haunted by a rowdy card recreation which ends badly – ​​the cries and shouts of the gamers could be heard as pistols are drawn. Add to this the ghosts of a former lord and his spouse, separated by a journey to the Holy land, wandering collectively on the sting of the forest; a headless priest; and the white girl floating above the moat and a go to to the fortress is not going to be a lonely affair!

Travel Information

Le Center de L’Imaginaire Arthurien is a hub for all issues Arthurian, internet hosting actions all year long www.broceliande-centre-arthurien.com

Brittany Ferries has each day sailings from Portsmouth to Saint-Malo

The Paimpont forest is simply 1½ hrs from Saint-Malo.

Lead picture credit score: © Shutterstock