© Aurelie Polvet Tourist Office Broceliande away from L ’ Orient airport .
A wizard in love
Merlin fell in love with one of his students , a fairy called Viviane . She enclosed him in a magic circle and there he stays …
“ I don ’ t think this is his final resting place . He is a spirit . He is everywhere . Not in one place ,” said my guide , a professional Merlinologist and official tourist guide for “ Le Centre de L ’ Imaginaire Arthurien ” which aims to discover and spread Arthurian knowledge . The centre has several official “ Round Table ” guides .
“ His spirit definitely inhabits the woods . That is why pilgrims come here . They seek guidance . The area is invested with memories of pre-Christian life .”
The forest has lots of well-marked footpaths and is a magical place to walk and feel the spirit of the old wizard . The tomb is indisputably an ancient site of worship . It stands near an old Neolithic gallery grave . The woods contain cromlechs and burial mounds from the Bronze and Iron ages . Water from the Fontaine de Barrenton spills over the Perron de Merlin ( Merlin ’ s steps ) into a pool where Merlin reputedly inducted Vivian into necromancy . For centuries locals believed that the water had enchanted properties .
Deeper into the forest , the Pont Dom Jean is believed to be the bridge of the sword crossed by Lancelot to deliver Guinevere . There is also a “ Rock des Faux Amants ”. The lover who betrayed Morgan , Arthur ’ s half-sister , and was turned into stone .