Menhir de la Rebeyrolle

Menhir de la Rebeyrolle is a standing stone from prehistory near the hamlet of Rebeyrolle, in the commune of Saint-Priest-la-Feuille in the Creuse department, New Aquitaine region of France. Locals also know it as Pierre Debout or Pierre Bohême, names that have outlived any written record of who raised it or why.

What will you see there?

The stone rises 2.40 metres and measures roughly 1.70 metres across at its widest point at the base. It stands alone at the edge of farmland, partly screened by surrounding vegetation, right next to the small road leading into the Rebeyrolle hamlet. There is no carving, no inscription — just the raw form of a single upright block, one of several megaliths recorded in this corner of the La Souterraine canton.

Since 29 May 1991 the stone has been listed as a French historic monument, a designation that protects it from destruction or removal but comes with none of the usual visitor infrastructure: no information panels, no ticket booth, no dedicated parking. This is a site for travellers who want unmediated contact with archaeological heritage rather than a curated exhibit.

What is the history behind it?

The menhir belongs to a cluster of megaliths documented in the canton of La Souterraine and attributed to the Neolithic period — the era, several thousand years ago, when farming communities across Western Europe began raising stones like this one. Why they did so, whether to mark territory, serve as landmarks, or fulfil some ritual purpose, remains debated among researchers, and no written source from the Rebeyrolle site settles the question.

One concrete episode does survive from its later history: in 1864, Yves Fesneau, who was conducting excavations around La Souterraine, found a so-called "Celtic" jasper axe at the base of the stone. Modest as it is, the find ties the site to a longer sequence of human presence, spanning prehistoric and early historic use of the land.

How do you get there?

The most direct route starts in the centre of Saint-Priest-la-Feuille: take the D10 road toward Chamborand, and after about 2.8 kilometres, at the junction, turn left toward the Rebeyrolle hamlet. The menhir stands close to this road at the edge of the fields, so slow down and watch the roadside carefully, since the surrounding vegetation can partly hide it.

Nearby, still within the commune of Saint-Priest-la-Feuille, sits the Dolmen de la Pierre Folle — another megalithic monument that pairs naturally with a visit to the menhir on a short tour of Creuse's prehistoric remains.

When is the best time to visit?

Because the menhir stands in open farmland, spring and summer offer the best visibility and easiest access, with dry access roads and longer daylight. In autumn and winter, denser vegetation can make the stone harder to spot, and the rural lanes leading to it can turn muddy after rain.

Frequently asked questions

Is there an entrance fee for the menhir? No — it is an unguarded outdoor site on private or communal land, freely visible from the public road.

Are there information panels at the site? There is no developed visitor infrastructure. The 1991 historic monument listing protects the stone legally but does not come with on-site signage.

How large is this menhir compared to others in France? At 2.40 metres, it counts as a mid-sized standing stone for the region — smaller than the famous giants of Brittany, but comparable to other stones recorded in the La Souterraine canton.

Can this visit be combined with other nearby sites? Yes — the Dolmen de la Pierre Folle in the same commune, along with other megaliths of the La Souterraine canton, makes it easy to build a short route through Creuse's prehistoric heritage.