Dolmen de Chantepierre
MonumentHidden Treasure
Dolmen de Chantepierre, located in Broc (Maine-et-Loire), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Broc, Maine-et-Loire, Pays de la Loire
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 47.5737, 0.1747
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00108999
A Neolithic monument listed as a Historic Monument, the Chantepierre dolmen stands with its imposing schist slabs in the heart of the Anjou countryside, a silent testament to a spirituality dating back five millennia.
History
Nestling in the hedged farmland of Maine-et-Loire, on the outskirts of the village of Broc, the Chantepierre dolmen is one of a constellation of megaliths that make the Anjou region one of France's richest in Neolithic funerary monuments. Its discreet presence in the green countryside is all the more striking when you suddenly discover the imposing mass of its raised stone blocks, emerging from an age that writing had not yet learned to name. This dolmen is a perfect illustration of the technical mastery of the agro-pastoral populations who colonised the Aubance valley and surrounding area between 4500 and 2500 BC. Probably built as a collective burial chamber, it reveals a sophisticated social organisation: only a close-knit community, capable of planning a considerable collective effort, could move and erect blocks weighing several tonnes without any metal tools. Visiting the site is like coming face to face with time. Unlike megalithic sites with car parks and interpretation panels, Chantepierre retains a wild authenticity. You come on foot, through the sunken lanes, and the reward is discovery. Photography enthusiasts will enjoy the remarkable play of light at dawn or sunset, when the elongated shadows of the orthostats sculpt the grassy ground. The surrounding hedged farmland - braided hedges, centuries-old oak trees, low slate walls - creates a visual harmony with the monument. The gentleness of the Anjou landscape contrasts with the mineral brutality of the stones, making the visit as melancholy as it is soothing. It's a monument for those curious about prehistory, as well as for anyone looking for a moment's respite from the hustle and bustle of the modern world.
Architecture
The Chantepierre dolmen is a classic example of the morphology of megalithic burials in Anjou: a funerary chamber delimited by several orthostats - vertical slabs - topped by one or more horizontal covering tables forming the roof slab. The whole structure rests directly on the ground or on a slight mound, the fill of which has largely disappeared over the centuries as a result of erosion and farming. The building blocks are probably made of slate schist or local sandstone, characteristic materials of the Maine-et-Loire subsoil that Neolithic builders knew how to extract and work with remarkable precision. The roof slabs, which weigh between two and five tonnes depending on the dimensions preserved, bear witness to elaborate site logistics involving wooden levers, plant ropes and a large workforce. The inner chamber would initially have measured between two and four metres in length, with a width of around one to two metres - typical dimensions for simple dolmens in the region. The special technical feature of these constructions lies in the absence of mortar or any other binding agent: the stability of the whole is ensured solely by the weight of the stones and their meticulous arrangement. Five thousand years of resistance to bad weather and minor earthquakes testify to the relevance of this constructional choice. The grey-green patina of the stones, colonised by lichen and moss, has blended the monument into its natural environment, giving it a presence that is both mineral and living.
Related Figures
Communautés néolithiques angevines (4000-2500 av. J.-C.) — bâtisseurs anonymes du dolmenÉrudits de la Société d'agriculture, sciences et arts d'Angers (XIXe s.) — premiers inventoriants du monumentInspecteurs des Monuments historiques (1983) — acteurs du classement officiel
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Dolmen de Chantepierre located?
Dolmen de Chantepierre is located in Broc, Maine-et-Loire department, Pays de la Loire region, France.
Is Dolmen de Chantepierre open to visitors?
Dolmen de Chantepierre is currently closed to visitors.