Carnac

Carnac is a commune in the Morbihan department of Brittany, France. It lies on the south coast of the Gulf of Morbihan, at the edge of the Breton peninsula near the town of Auray. The commune includes the seaside resort of Carnac-Plage and hinterland villages. The Breton name is Karnag.

The area is renowned for its prehistoric megalithic monuments known as the Carnac stones. The stones form extensive alignments and field monuments dating to the late Neolithic (approximately 4500–3300 BCE). The main alignments, notably Ménec, Kermario, and Kerlestrain, consist of thousands of standing stones arranged in parallel rows, along with numerous dolmens and burial mounds.

Scholars have studied the site since the 19th century, and the monuments have been maintained and protected as part of the region's heritage. The precise purpose of the alignments remains debated, with theories ranging from ritual and ceremonial use to boundary markers or astronomical alignments.

In modern times Carnac's economy is strongly oriented toward tourism, with visitors attracted to the beaches, the megalithic sites and the associated Musée de Préhistoire; the Musée de Préhistoire in Carnac houses artifacts and provides interpretive exhibitions.

The population is small and seasonal; the town preserves Breton cultural traditions and the Breton language remains part of the local heritage. The area is served by road networks and is accessible from Vannes and Auray; the nearest rail links are in Auray.