From the beaches to the Carnac alignments

Starting from Avenue de l'Atlantique near the Carnac thalassotherapy centre, the walk allows you to discover the coast and its beaches before heading into the countryside to see the alignments, dolmens, cromlechs and menhirs, before returning to the beaches.

Details

18676426
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 15.11 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 49 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 45 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 43 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Carnac (56340)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.571666° / W 3.079062°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 0821OT
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Park along Avenue de l'Atlantique near the Carnac thalassotherapy centre (the centre's car park is private).

(S/E) Turn right towards the sea and you will arrive opposite the port

(1) Turn right to walk along several beaches to Pointe Saint-Colomban.

(2) Continue along the beach of the same name until you reach Pointe du Pô.

(3) After the block of houses, turn right inland. Pass three paths on the left to reach the village of Saint Colomban, which you will cross.

(4) Continue straight ahead and pass a road on your left.

(5) Turn left onto the path immediately after and follow it until you reach a road, which you take on the left (Chemin de Mane er Groez). Follow it to Rue du Pô.

(6) First turn right then left to continue along Chemin de Kergouillard until you reach the roundabout with Rue Saint-Cornely (D781).

(7) Take Chemin du Ménec opposite until you reach Rue du Ménec, where you turn left and go up to the place called Le Ménec (cromlech).

(8) Head up to the right along the Ménec alignments to Rue de Penerlann, where you turn left and then immediately right, opposite a house. Walk to the end of the path and turn right to the road, which you cross at the pedestrian crossing (Route du Purgatoire).

(9) Leave the road and take a path behind the house (a sign indicates Chapelle Saint-Michel 900 m). Follow this path to the Chapelle Saint-Michel and the tumulus (on the way, you will pass the Fontaine Saint-Michel). Climb the tumulus, which offers a 360° view.

(10) Descend behind the Tumulus, walk alongside the hotel and take a path on the right. Leave a path on the right and come out onto a small road (Chemin de Cloucarnac) which you take on the left. Then continue straight ahead until you reach a roundabout.

(11) At the roundabout, turn right and go around the next roundabout on the left. After Allée des Chevaliers, turn left and continue to the end of Chemin ar Stivell. Turn right twice (be careful of the wetland, keep well to the right of the pond) and join Chemin de Beaumer (dolmen).

(12) Follow it to the left, cross a bean-shaped roundabout and continue to a new roundabout (Avenue des Druides), which you cross to reach the beach (Plage de Men Du) on the left.

(13) Continue straight ahead along Avenue d'Orient and, at the crossroads, cross it and follow the seafront to Avenue de l'Atlantique on the right.

(1) Turn right to reach the thalassotherapy centre car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 4 m - Parking on Avenue de l'Atlantique
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 3 m - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : km 1.95 - alt. 8 m - Pointe Saint-Colomban
  4. 3 : km 3.98 - alt. 3 m - Pointe du Pô
  5. 4 : km 4.9 - alt. 12 m - Saint-Colomban
  6. 5 : km 5.25 - alt. 3 m - Path to Oointe du Gourec
  7. 6 : km 6.46 - alt. 16 m - Rue du Pô
  8. 7 : km 7.04 - alt. 16 m - Chemin du Ménec
  9. 8 : km 7.68 - alt. 21 m - Place known as Le Ménec
  10. 9 : km 8.71 - alt. 17 m - Route du Purgatoire
  11. 10 : km 9.75 - alt. 40 m - Chapelle Saint-Michel - Tumulus Saint-Michel
  12. 11 : km 11.02 - alt. 9 m - Montauban
  13. 12 : km 12.06 - alt. 15 m - Chemin de Baumer
  14. 13 : km 12.7 - alt. 4 m - Men Du Beach
  15. S/E : km 15.11 - alt. 4 m - Parking on Avenue de l'Atlantique

Worth a visit

The hike allows you (in summer) to combine the pleasures of the beach (at the start and finish) with the discovery of the famous alignments. There is also a viewpoint of the Chapelle Saint-Michel tumulus.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
runelan
runelan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A blend of land and sea with stunning views.

Machine-translated

mikelitos
mikelitos

hello,
please feel free to let us know which points caused you problems so that we can remedy them. Without more specific information, this is not possible.
Enjoy your hikes.

Machine-translated

riko 56
riko 56
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a truly pleasant hike between the sea, megaliths and woods, best done in good weather to enjoy the blue sky and turquoise sea, ideal in late season for the mild temperatures. Be careful, however, as some of the information provided along the route is misleading.

Machine-translated

POTTIER Philippe
POTTIER Philippe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, with points of interest. A little crowded, but not too much, at the alignments.

Machine-translated

Peggo
Peggo

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, especially in the sunshine – the best! 😉

Machine-translated

Prieur_christian
Prieur_christian

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike completed in early October, so very few people around. Very pleasant and varied route along the shore, then through the countryside and woods. Lots of interesting things to see along the way (alignments, sea views, fountain, etc.). The highest point is the Saint Michel chapel (see photo) with a beautiful view. The route is indeed 15 km long, as indicated in the description.

Machine-translated

Xavier Pocheveux
Xavier Pocheveux

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route with swimming.

Machine-translated

GISORANDO
GISORANDO

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy, sunny hike, with the discovery of the Ménec menhirs, the chapel (closed) and the Saint Michel burial mound.
The hike was closer to 17 km than the 15 km mentioned in the description.

Machine-translated

Pascal C56
Pascal C56

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 21, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Hike undertaken in the middle of winter in sunny weather with cool temperatures of 3 to 5°C. Not many walkers in these conditions, which allows you to really enjoy the seascapes, quietly observe the seafront residences or contemplate the megalithic sites. I recommend this easy and interesting route.
Best done in the low season if possible!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.