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Origin and history

The alignment of the Champ des Roches, also known as the Druid Cemetery, is a megalithic complex located in the commune of Pleslin-Trigavou (Côtes-d-Armor, Brittany). It consists of 65 menhirs in white filonian quartz, spread over five rows facing west-east. Among them, 55 are now overthrown. The most imposing, named the Tual Rock, is 3.50 m high. Four other quartzite blocks, located 100 m west, could extend the alignment by a total of 200 m. The site has been listed as a historic monument since 1889, highlighting its heritage importance.

According to a local legend, the menhirs were abandoned by fairies on their way to build Mont Saint-Michel. A tradition that continued until the mid-19th century (attested in 1850) organized pagan celebrations at the feasts of Saint John and St Peter, marked by banquets and bonfires, evoking Druidic rites. These practices illustrate the persistence of ancestral beliefs related to megaliths.

The site has been developed with a collection of oaks integrated into the Fragmented Botanical Garden of the country of Dinan, including native species (honey, pedunculate) and Mediterranean (green oak, cork). This modern addition contrasts with the monument's seniority, while enhancing its natural setting. No recent archaeological excavations are mentioned in the sources, but alignment remains a major testimony of Breton megalithic culture.

Bibliographic references include the book by Loïc Langouët (2004), Les megalithes de l'arrondissement de Dinan, which documents the site among other similar monuments of the Côtes-d-D-Armor. The absence of precise dating in the available sources limits the knowledge of its exact construction period, typical of megalithic alignments whose origin often dates back to the Neolithic.

Finally, the site is part of a network of Breton megalithic monuments, highlighted by its ranking and its mention in regional inventories. Its alternative name, the Druid Cemetery, reflects the 19th century romantic interpretations of these stones and Celtic religious practices, although no archaeological evidence confirms this link.

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