This magical adventure has been on my bucket list since I completed my Morgen La Fey course back in 2017. I was accompanied by my friend Susan who organised the gite for our overnight stay. When we arrived on the Monday nothing was open including the Tourist Information centre. Luckily our gite had a map of the area so we were able to plan where we wanted to go. The Forêt de Brocéliande is about 18 miles west of Rennes and is all that remains of the vast forest that covered ancient inland Brittany. Legend has it that the 25 square miles of woodland is also the location of mythical Brocéliande, the forest of King Arthur, Merlin, The Fairy Viviane and Morgen La Fey.
My main objective had been to visit the Val Sans Retour which had been my connection with Morgen La Fey back in 2017, but I had no idea of the connection with Merlin and the Forêt de Brocéliande. When we arrived, and after much searching, we managed to find Merlin’s Spring where Merlin and Viviane met. A school trip was already there and I was so pleased to listen to the French teacher explaining the history of Merlin and the Spring. How wonderful that the French still keep this sort of history alive. And of course, I stocked up with the Spring Water to make my Merlin Essence the next day.
Early next morning we set off to find Merlin’s Tomb and the Fountain of Youth. I cannot begin to describe the magical atmosphere of this beautiful forest. Primeval comes to mind. This photo captures the energy as the sun was starting to rise on Merlin’s Tomb where he was once imprisoned.
And then not far from Merlin’s Tomb, another treasure. The Fountain of Youth with it’s magical powers of eternal youth. Susan and I both splashed our faces with the water and of course I couldn’t leave without collecting enough to make some essence. And quite close was a remarkable array of little standing stones.
Our next port of call was the Val Sans Retour (Valley of No Return). Make sure you have good walking boots on as the rocky pathway is not easy to climb and Susan did not find it easy with the operations she has had on her hips and leg. The first amazing sight to see was the Golden Tree which protects the Forest.
Nearby is the Miroir Aux Fees (Fairies Lake) and more water for my essence making.
And then after quite a climb is the Val Sans Retour (Valley of No Return). Morgen La Fey’s territory.
High above the valley is the Rocher des Faux Amants (rock of false lovers) which is the spot where Morgen La Fey enticed her prisoners.
The end to our visit was lunch by the lake in front of our gite. Yay! A truly magical journey
What did I learn?
– The Forêt de Brocéliande is a journey not only to Morgen La Fey but to Merlin’s mystical forest. – Merlin taught magic and his students were all women including Morgen La Fey and Viviane – Merlin fell in love with the fairy Viviane (Lady of the Lake) and she used her magical powers against him by enclosing him in a magic circle -Merlin was once imprisoned in this circle – Merlin is able to shape shift, for example a white footed stag, a crow, a robin -The forest is magical and a very special place
Blessed Be