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Carnac Facts & Worksheets

Carnac is a commune — a division, village, Morbihan department — located beside the Gulf of Morbihan, on the southern coast of Brittany region in North-western France.

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Carnac is a commune — a division, village, Morbihan department — located beside the Gulf of Morbihan, on the southern coast of Brittany region in North-western France. The people living in Carnac are called Carnacois in French language.

See the fact file below for more information on the Carnac or alternatively, you can download our 24-page Carnac worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

CARNAC’S STANDING STONES

  • Carnac is most popular as the site of more than 10,000 menhirs, or Neolithic standing stones.
  • These stones were erected by the people that lived in Brittany before the Celtic era.
  • The Carnac Stones are considered the largest collection of standing stones in the world.
  • The Carnac Stones remain mysterious as the purpose of arranging such an amount of stones is still unknown.
  • There are two types of arrangements to be found that make up the Carnac Stones. One is the standing stone called menhirs; the other is the cluster of several stones known as dolmens.
  • Twelve converging rows of standing stones make up the main group of stone alignments stretching more than a kilometer. Remains of a stone circle is to be found at both ends.
  • The largest stones measure up to 4 meters high and are located at the western end.
  • The stones become smaller along the length of the alignment reaching around 0.6 meters in height.
  • Archaeologists have had great difficulty in finding accurate dates in determining how old the stones are, due to the fact that little material was found beneath them that could be used for radiocarbon dating.
  • However, it is believed that the Carnac stones were arranged during the Neolithic period that spanned from 4500 BC until 2000 BC.
  • From the viewpoint of mythology and folklore, a circulating story tells about a Roman legion—a massive group of warriors—that was marching when the wizard Merlin turned them to stone.
  • Various theories have been formulated by different experts and perspectives in an attempt to explain the purpose of these mysterious stones.
  • For example, a researcher who studied the stones had stated that the stones served their purpose as an elaborate earthquake detector.
  • Another theory suggests that the Carnac stones were arranged by ancient people to honor their ancestors.
  • Furthermore, other experts thought that the stones were arranged astronomically. If so, it may suggest that the stones were used as calendars and observatories.

HISTORY

  • In 1864, La Trinité-sur-Mer and its port formed a separate commune to create their own commune and parish, as the fishermen found the church in Saint-Cornély to be too far from the port. Thus, the fishermen decided to build a more convenient location.
  • A seaside resort was created on the old salt flats in 1903.
  • The seaside resort continued to develop extensively through the 1950s and later on created the split Carnac of today: Carnac-ville and Carnac-plage.
  • In 1974, retiring after having won the Tour de France three times from 1953 to 1955, champion cyclist Louison Bobet sponsored a renowned hydrotherapy center in Carnac.

TOURISM

  • Here are reasons why Carnac is a good place for tourists.
  • The Carnac Stones is a popular tourist destination in Carnac for its mysterious yet eye-catching quality.
  • One division of Carnac, the Carnac-Plage, contains five distinct, sheltered, sandy beaches where pine trees stand tall in the background.
  • The largest beach found in Carnac-Plage is the Grande Plage, a beach that is 2 kilometers long. Two children’s clubs can be found on the beach.
  • Smaller and a little less crowded beaches are also found in Carnac-Plage: Légenèse and Ty Bihan. The Légenèse beach is popular for having a morning fitness session in the main season.
  • Saint-Colomban beach is a little more exposed to the winds from the west that is why windsurfers and kite surfers prefer them more.
  • Men Dû beach actually lies in Trinity but is still located at the range of Carnac.
  • The town centre is located at Carnac-Ville. This is where tourists can enjoy a less crowded atmosphere.
  • Carnac-Ville is a small town where various shops and St Cornély church is located at its centre.
  • Carnac’s patron saint is St Cornély, the patron saint of cattles.
  • Carnac-Ville has a more laid-back and relaxed ambiance when compared to the busy shops and restaurants at Carnac-Plage.
  • Tourists are recommended to head to the town on Wednesday and Sunday mornings for the market, to see the peak busy ambiance of Carnac-Ville.
  • Carnac has a warm and temperate climate that is enjoyable for tourists.
  • From June to December, the temperature in Carnac is in the range of 20 degrees: a temperature that is not annoyingly hot but a kind of heat perfect for summer outfits.
  • Carnac gets over two thousand hours of sunshine per year, causing the waters to have warm currents.

Carnac Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about the Carnac across 24 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Carnac worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Carnac which is a commune — a division, village, Morbihan department — located beside the Gulf of Morbihan, on the southern coast of Brittany region in North-western France. The people living in Carnac are called Carnacois in French language.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Carnac in France Facts
  • Vocabulary Scramble
  • Introduction to France
  • Sketching Stones
  • History Blanks
  • Origin and Purpose
  • World’s Mysterious Stones
  • Carnac Crossword Puzzle
  • Carnac-Plage Beaches
  • Carnac Review
  • Invitation to Carnac

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Link will appear as Carnac Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, November 25, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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