Menhir
MonumentHidden Treasure
Menhir, located in Glomel (Département 22), is a historic monument. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Location
- Glomel, Département 22, Bretagne
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 48.2017, -3.3566
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00089162
A stone sentinel that has stood in the heart of the Breton plateau since Neolithic times, the menhir at Glomel embodies five millennia of mystery, belief and the wild landscape of the Côtes-d'Armor.
History
In the heart of Central Brittany, in the commune of Glomel, a granite monolith stands alone on the mountainous plateau that separates the watersheds of inland Brittany. Built by human hands over five thousand years ago, this menhir belongs to one of the densest megalithic traditions in Western Europe, one that has shaped Brittany into an exceptional land of standing stones. The Glomel menhir stands in a landscape of moorland and forest often referred to as argoat - Breton for "woodland" - in contrast to coastal Armorica. This inland setting, which is more discreet than the alignments at Carnac, gives the monument a particularly intimate and powerful atmosphere. The stone, extracted from local granite outcrops, was worked, dressed and stabilised with a mastery that bears witness to an elaborate social organisation. Visiting the menhir at Glomel is like taking a break from the ordinary. The slender silhouette of the monolith, set against the changing skies of Central Brittany, makes a lasting impression. The surrounding countryside, with its bocage, peat bogs and Black Mountains, adds an almost immemorial dimension to the experience. There's no crowd noise to disturb the contemplation; it's a monument for those who know how to walk and look. Protected since 1970 by decree as a Historic Monument, the menhir of Glomel benefits from heritage recognition which, while discreet, guarantees the preservation of this exceptional witness to the prehistoric settlement of inland Brittany. The site is ideal for prehistory enthusiasts, curious hikers and photographers in search of a golden light on ancient stone.
Architecture
The Glomel menhir is a granite monolith quarried from the rocky outcrops characteristic of the plateaux of Central Brittany. Like most menhirs in the region, it has a slightly tapered cross-section, wider at the base than at the top, giving it a natural stability enhanced by its partial burial in the ground. The surface of the rock, patinated by five millennia of weathering, has the typical grey and bluish tones of Armorican granite, punctuated by yellow and grey lichens that draw an infinitely complex map on the stone. The height of the emerging shaft is characteristic of the isolated menhirs of Central Brittany, which differ from the large monoliths of Morbihan by their more sober proportions, generally between two and four metres above ground level. Extracting, transporting and erecting this block required a considerable collective effort, involving the use of wooden levers, ropes woven from plant fibres and a large number of coordinated workers - all signs of a hierarchical and organised Neolithic society. No engraved decoration has been found on the Glomel menhir, which sets it apart from the ornate menhirs of the Morbihan region, which feature polished axes or spirals. This formal sobriety is common in the megaliths of inland Brittany, where the raw stone, in its very verticality, is the essential message: the affirmation of a human presence, an appropriate territory, a link between earth and sky.
Related Figures
Populations néolithiques du Centre-Bretagne (bâtisseurs, vers 3500-2500 av. J.-C.)Antiquaires bretons du XVIIIe siècle (premiers inventoriateurs des mégalithes armoricains)Paul du Châtellier (archéologue finistérien du XIXe siècle, pionnier de l'inventaire mégalithique breton)Zacharie Le Rouzic (archéologue morbihannais, référence pour l'étude des mégalithes bretons au XXe siècle)Administration des Monuments Historiques (protection officielle accordée en 1970)
Tags
Nearby castles
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Menhir located?
Menhir is located in Glomel, Département 22 department, Bretagne region, France.
Is Menhir open to visitors?
Menhir is currently closed to visitors.
