Menhir of Peyrefitte (Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens)
The menhir of Peyrefitte (also called Pierrefitte or Pierre Fitte ) is a menhir in Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens in the Gironde department in France . The biggest menhir in southwestern France is located approximately 50 meters west of the road from Libourne to Branne and 200 meters from the Dordogne removed.
The menhir consists of a monolithic limestone block with a square cross-section. He is from approximately 2.5 km to the east in Saint-Emilion lying outcrops of rock. It is about 5.2 m high, 3.0 m wide and 1.5 m thick. Its weight is estimated at around 50 tons, taking into account the buried part. It has a narrowing on its underside. On one side there is a round "hole for offerings" 0.7 m above the ground, which probably dates from the Middle Ages.
As with all menhirs, dating is difficult. It stands near the richest gallery tombs in the region, dating from the late Neolithic (2600-2300 BC), and is probably contemporary.
The stone is mentioned in the legal texts of the 13th century as the landmark Petra Fixa . In the 19th century, a Merovingian grave with bones and two iron keys was found nearby .
The Peyrefitte menhir was classified as a Monument historique in 1889 .
There are several legends about the menhir, which is also said to have healing powers.
On the feast of St. John (June 24th) the menhir is decorated. The participants in a procession walk twice around the menhir with burning candles and make a wish. Finally, the candles are entrusted to the current of the Dordogne. Some write vows on a piece of paper that is folded into a boat and given to the river. Fireworks add to the atmosphere.
See also
literature
- Alain Beyneix: Monuments mégalithiques en Aquitaine , Éditions Alan Sutton, Saint-Cyr-sur-Loire 2009, ISBN 978-2-84910-957-1 , pp. 68-69
- E. Piganeau: Le menhir de Saint-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens , Société archéologique de Bordeaux, Vol. 1, 1874, pp. 143-149
Web links
- Menhir de Peyrefitte ou de Pierre Fitte in the Base Mérimée of the French Ministry of Culture (French)
Coordinates: 44 ° 53 '23.3 " N , 0 ° 12' 17.2" W.