It is an illustrious unknown, perched on the coastal heights of Plouezoc’h (Finistère), facing the bay of Morlaix. This cairn, a group of burials dating from the Neolithic period, is considered the largest mausoleum in Europe, but is not as successful as its megalithic cousins in Carnac (Morbihan) – which are also awaiting their inclusion in the world heritage list. Unesco by 2027. However, the Barnenez cairn, 75 m long by 28 wide and around ten in height for 11 burial chambers, is one of the oldest stone buildings built by humanity, between 4,600 and 3,900 BC, or 1,300 to 2,000 years before the first pyramids of Egypt.
This rarest archaeological monument that André Malraux described as the “Neolithic Parthenon” almost disappeared. Listed and known to a few scholars in the 19th century, the site was bought in 1954 by a public works contractor who used it as a quarry. A nearby cairn was thus destroyed. The scientific community was moved by this and mobilized to finally officially protect it in 1956, the date of its classification as a Historic Monument.
It is currently managed by the Center des monuments nationaux – which also takes care of the alignments of Carnac (Morbihan), the large menhirs of Locmariaquer (Morbihan) and the house of Ernest Renan in Tréguier (Côtes-d’) in Brittany. Armor) –, which has recorded more than 40,000 visits since the start of the year, a record.
“We are indeed aiming for 45,000 entries at the end of the year,” says Olivier Agogué, the administrator of the national monuments of Brittany, who also directs the Carnac museum. “We are obviously delighted with this deserved success, because the work is in a remarkable state of conservation, is distinguished by the height of its elevation and is located on a rare landscape point, which opens up the view over the bay of Morlaix but also on the Arrée mountains. » For Olivier Agogué, we “do not actually go by chance” to the Barnenez cairn, “especially since we are subject to climatic hazards throughout the year”. And even if many guided tours are organized outdoors, in addition to original workshops such as the handling of prehistoric tools, demonstrations of throwing these same tools, or even moments dedicated to young audiences.
“Moreover, a reception renovation project is underway,” specifies the administrator. Work should begin to take shape next year to better accommodate the public.