Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez
MonumentHidden Treasure
Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez, located in Laz (Département 29), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Laz, Département 29, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.1177, -3.8101
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00090066
A stone sentinel erected since Neolithic times in the heart of Finistère, the Kermez menhir in Laz defies the millennia with its solitary silhouette, a monumental witness to prehistoric Breton spirituality.
History
At the bend in a hedgerow path in the commune of Laz, in inland Finistère, stands the Kermez - or Kermaez - menhir, one of the most discreet yet touching standing stones in Brittany. Listed as a Historic Monument since 1910, this Neolithic orthostasis stands alone in a landscape of moorland and dense forests, a few leagues from the Monts d'Arrée, in a region that Bretons sometimes call the "land of the soul". This menhir belongs to a megalithic tradition that is deeply rooted in the western Armorican region, where thousands of standing stones have lined the countryside for over five thousand years. Unlike the spectacular alignments at Carnac or the much-publicised dolmens in Morbihan, the Kermez menhir offers an intimate, silent encounter with prehistory. Its very solitude is its strength: no museographic device stands between the visitor and the raw stone. The visitor experience is deeply contemplative. As you approach, you can make out the grey and russet hues of the Armorican granite, criss-crossed by golden lichens and velvety mosses that mark the centuries. The mass of stone, tilted slightly under the effect of millennia, imposes an almost animal presence. The inhabitants of the neighbouring hamlets still attribute virtues and legends to it, as is customary in Brittany for any ancient stone. The surrounding natural setting adds to the timeless atmosphere. The damp meadows, the slopes planted with pedunculate oaks and the unobstructed view of the Monts d'Arrée massif provide an unspoilt backdrop for archaeological reverie. The Kermez menhir is just as much a place for hikers looking for a heritage stop-off on their itinerary as it is for Breton megalith enthusiasts in search of authentic sites far from the crowds.
Architecture
The Kermez menhir is a monolith of Armorican granite, the dominant rock in the subsoil of central Finistère. Like the vast majority of Breton menhirs, it was extracted by percussion and levers from a nearby natural outcrop, exploiting the cleavage planes of the granite to produce an elongated block. Its overall shape - wide at the base and tapering slightly towards the top - is characteristic of the standing stones of inland Finistère, without the entirely carved appearance seen on some menhirs in Morbihan. The surface of the stone has the dark, irregular patina typical of granite that has been exposed for five millennia: large patches of crustaceous lichens (Rhizocarpon geographicum, Aspicilia) colonise the less exposed faces, while the faces facing the wind retain a bluish-grey hue close to that of fresh rock. No engravings or cupules have been reported on this menhir, which distinguishes it from ornate orthostats found in other parts of Brittany. The topographical position of the menhir, slightly higher than its immediate surroundings, is in keeping with the practices of Armorican Neolithic builders, who favoured the visibility of their monuments from traffic routes and cultivated areas. The stone is currently slightly inclined, the combined effect of soil compaction and freeze-thaw cycles over several millennia, giving it a visual dynamism that accentuates its expressive character.
Related Figures
Paul du Châtellier — archéologue et préhistorien finistérien (1833-1911), pionnier du recensement des mégalithes armoricains au XIXe siècleProsper Mérimée — inspecteur général des Monuments Historiques, dont l'action au XIXe siècle posa les fondements de la protection du patrimoine préhistorique françaisZacharie Le Rouzic — archéologue breton (1864-1939), grand spécialiste des mégalithes, dont les travaux de classification influencèrent la protection des menhirs du FinistèreGabriel de Mortillet — préhistorien (1821-1898), dont la codification des périodes du Néolithique permit de replacer des monuments comme Kermez dans leur contexte chronologique
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez located?
Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez is located in Laz, Département 29 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez open to visitors?
Menhir de Kermez, ou de Kermaez is currently closed to visitors.