Brocéliande, earlier known as Brécheliant and Brécilien, is a legendary enchanted forest that had a reputation in the medieval European imagination as a place of magic and mystery. Brocéliande is featured in several medieval texts, mostly these related to the Arthurian legend, as well as in numerous modern works.
Brocéliande first appeared in literature in Wace's 1160 chronicle Roman de Rou that reported on the fanciful tales surrounding its location in Brittany. It is a place of legend due to its uncertain location, unusual weather, and its ties with Arthurian mythology, most notably the tomb of Merlin. In chivalric romance lore, the forest sheltered Morgan's magical Vale of No Return, the faery fountain of Barenton, and the place of Merlin's retirement, imprisonment, or death. Today, it is most commonly identified as Paimpont forest in Brittany, France.
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