Paimpont, la fontaine de Barenton dans la foret de Broceliande.
©BERTHIER Emmanuel
The Fountain of Barenton the bubbling spring
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The fountain of Barenton

Welcome to the beating heart of Broceliande, to the sure and fertile source of the Breton forest’s wonder. Everything starts from there. Everything returns there. There, the adventure of the Knight with the Lion does not appeal to history, but to legendary, even mythical images. Real, supernatural? Bubbles still rise from the bottom of the fountain, and one believes to see the face of the Enchanter trembling in the shiver of the water…

Getting there
Travelers' photos
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Paimpont, la fontaine de Barenton dans la foret de Broceliande.
©BERTHIER Emmanuel
fontaine de Barenton, balade contée. Brocéliande, Bretagne.
©droits réservés

The Fountain That Tells the Future

Today, the fountain is no longer adorned with the emeralds and rubies that medieval authors described. Giant knights dressed in night clothes, nutons, evil spirits, wild men or lions hardly haunt it anymore. Yet one still comes to sit near the fountain of Barenton, to see the clusters of bubbles pierce the surface, pretext to make wishes.

Merlin and Vivian, meeting in Barenton

One beautiful spring day, near a wonderful fountain, Viviane met Merlin. He had assumed the appearance of a squire of great bearing. In the vicinity of the spring, he gave the beautiful young girl her first lesson in magic. She learned how to make a fast, cool river appear on a dry, barren moor. Then, without saying anything, he left her. Thus began, between these legendary lovers, the powerful ballet of love and absence. For those who have the heart of the legend, this fountain could only be Barenton, in Broceliande.

Text written by Claudine GLOT, Centre de l’imaginaire Arthurien (CIA)

épées et heaume de chevalier
©libre de droit
Yvain, the Lion Knight
Discover the greatest adventure of King Arthur's nephew, the knight Yvain, at the Fountain of Barenton.

Legendary sites DISCOVER THE OTHER HIGH PLACES OF THE FOREST

Roches de Trebran - Concoret - MorbihanRoches de Trebran - Concoret - Morbihan
©M. Rivrin
The Three Rocks of Trebran
The 3 rocks of Trébran, blocks of stone sleeping for thousands of years in an undergrowth near Concoret, are heavy with mystery!
église du Graal,abbé Gillard, fresque, cerf blanc, Tréhorenteuc, légendes arthuriennes, brocéliande, Morbihan, Bretagne
©Emmanuel Berthier
The Grail Church
A unique church dedicated to the legend of the Grail in the heart of Brocéliande. It brings together Celticism, Christianity and stories of chivalry.
Plus beau château de Brocéliande, légende dame blanche, écrin de verdure, Concoret, Morbihan, Bretagne
©Emmanuel Berthier
The Castle of Trécesson
Sumptuous medieval castle, made of red schist, located on the edge of the forest of Broceliande. Mysteries and legends surround Trécesson.
tombeau de Merlin, printempstombeau de Merlin, printemps. Brocéliande, Bretagne
©Aurélie Poilvet
Merlin’s Tomb
In the state forest of Paimpont, Merlin's tomb is composed of 3 slabs of schist where the enchanter of Broceliande would be locked up...
balade dans le val sans retour et découverte du miroir aux fées
©Emmanuel Berthier
The Valley of No Return
The valley of no return is the emblematic place of the forest of Broceliande. The golden tree, the fairy mirror, Merlin's seat... are a must.
L'AffL'Aff
©Claudine Glot
The Valley of the aff
To walk the paths of the valley is to follow in the footsteps of Lancelot and Guinevere and their forbidden love.
9282-2.jpg
The castle and the lake of Comper
The lake of Comper, in the heart of Broceliande, would shelter, according to the legend, the castle of crystal of Viviane, under the glance of the old fortress
guillotin-mrivrin.jpg
©M. Rivrin
The Guillotin Oak
A remarkable tree in Broceliande, the Guillotin oak is said to be a thousand years old. It is without question the patriarch of this legendary forest.
jardin aux moines site mégalithique en forêt de Brocéliande
©Emilie Normand
The monks’ garden
Remarkable and unique megalithic site, the legends of the monks' garden evoke the wrath of the Gods against debauchery and vices.
Fontaine De Jouvence en BrocéliandeFontaine De Jouvence Paimpont , Ille-et-Vilaine, Bretagne.
©CRTB
The Fountain of Youth
In the forest of Broceliande, it is said that the water of the Fountain of Youth would give youth to the body and heart of the one who drinks it!