Menhirs de Monteneuf

Menhirs de Monteneuf, also known as Les Pierres Droites, form one of the largest concentrations of standing stones in Brittany, located in the commune of Monteneuf in the Morbihan department. On a heathland covered with heather and gorse, more than 400 stone blocks stand arranged in seven parallel rows running from east to west.

What are the stones made of?

Most of the monoliths were quarried from local purple-grey schist, now patched with lichen that gives them a rugged, weathered look. Some blocks, however, are white quartz brought from considerably farther away — evidence that the builders selected their material deliberately rather than simply using whatever stone was nearby. The tallest menhirs rise more than 5 metres and weigh up to 30 tonnes.

How old is the site?

The alignment dates to around 4500 BCE, a period when Neolithic communities in Brittany had grown organized enough to plan and erect large-scale, carefully arranged monuments. The geometric layout of the seven rows reflects both technical skill and the social coordination needed to move and position hundreds of multi-tonne blocks.

Why were the stones found lying down?

Around the year 1000, the Church regarded the menhirs as remnants of pagan practice with no basis in Christian teaching and had them toppled. For centuries most lay flat on the ground, gradually overgrown by the surrounding heath. It was only in the 1980s that archaeologists began work that returned many stones to their original socket holes and stood them upright again.

What can visitors see on site today?

A visitor centre at the site offers interactive displays explaining how the menhirs were erected, what Neolithic dwellings looked like, how crops were grown at the time, and how the archaeological excavations that led to the site's rediscovery and restoration were carried out. This gives visitors insight not just into the finished alignment, but into the logistics behind building it thousands of years ago.

Frequently asked questions

How many menhirs are there at Monteneuf? Estimates put the number at more than 400 blocks arranged in seven rows, though the exact count varies by source, as some stones remain fallen or under study.

What material are the menhirs made from? Most are local purple-grey schist, but some blocks are white quartz transported from farther afield.

Why were the stones toppled in the Middle Ages? The Church considered them a symbol of paganism without biblical grounding and had them knocked down around the year 1000.

When was the site restored? Archaeological work carried out from the 1980s onward re-erected many of the menhirs in their original socket holes.

Is there anything for visitors beyond the stones themselves? Yes — a visitor centre presents interactive exhibits on menhir construction, Neolithic housing, crop cultivation, and the archaeological excavations at the site.