Menhirs, dolmens, cromlechs

Brittany is known for he long rows of menhirs and dolmens. This dolmen is in the direct neighbourhood of the large menhir, seen on the previous upload.

..one of the many dolmens on the island..

..still some frost in the shadow of the Menhir Pascalou. 1878 Stevenson stayed here a night "à la belle étoile" - under the stars. He had bad weather conditions that night..

A prehistoric menhir on the left and an open stone cist grave in the middle, further to the edge, facing south. There are quite some menhirs here in this part of the mountains.

Brittany is known for he long rows of menhirs - and many large single ones like this menhir, near Poullan-sur-Mer.

This christianized menhir, named "Groas Veur" ("The Great Cross"), stands just 200 meters east of the "Chapelle de Beuzec", seen in the background.

The Carnac stones are a collection of megalithic sites consisting of alignments, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs. There are more than 3000 standing stones, probably erected between 4500 and 3300 BC. I had read about Carnac, but was not prepared for such a large, overwhelming and crowded scene. So I have decided to return to Carnac and spend two days (and not two hours!) here next time. Probably in winter, when all gates are open - and most tourists are at home. Here is more info carnac.monuments-nationaux.fr/

The Carnac stones are a collection of megalithic sites consisting of alignments, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs. There are more than 3000 standing stones, probably erected between 4500 and 3300 BC. I had read about Carnac, but was not prepared for such a large, overwhelming and crowded scene. So I have decided to return to Carnac and spend two days (and not two hours!) here next time. Probably in winter, when all gates are open - and most tourists are at home. And maybe I should think about a quadcopter. Here is more info carnac.monuments-nationaux.fr/

The Carnac stones are a collection of megalithic sites consisting of alignments, dolmens, tumuli and single menhirs. There are more than 3000 standing stones, probably erected between 4500 and 3300 BC. I had read about Carnac, but was not prepared for such a large, overwhelming and crowded scene. So I have decided to return to Carnac and spend two days (and not two hours!) here next time. Probably in winter, when all gates are open - and most tourists are at home. And maybe I should think about a quadcopter. Here is more info carnac.monuments-nationaux.fr/

Early morning at the "Pierre Percée", a menhir about 4 meters high. I learned that local tradition is, that newly wed couple kiss "through" the hole, what then brings eternal blessedness for the couple. Well - actually they need two large groups of strong friends, to lift them up to that hole. To have such friends is for sure a key to happiness. The menhir has it´s own website: touraine-insolite.clicforum.fr/t63-Menhir-La-Pierre-Perce...

Li Muri, a prehistoric necropolis, only about 1 km northwest of Bronze age Li Lolghi (see previous uploads) is even older. It is late Neolithic, dated to 3.500 - 2.700 BC. ascribable to the Arzachena culture, that left structures like Li Muri on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. Li Muri is composed by five stone cists, four of which are surrounded by circles of small slabs, that probably once hold a heap of small stones and earth covering the cists. Menhirs stand upright a little outside the circles.

Li Muri, a prehistoric necropolis, only about 1 km northwest of Bronze age Li Lolghi (see previous uploads) is even older. It is late Neolithic, dated to 3.500 - 2.700 BC. ascribable to the Arzachena culture, that left structures like Li Muri on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. Li Muri is composed by five stone cists, four of which are surrounded by circles of small slabs, that probably once hold a heap of small stones and earth covering the cists. Menhirs stand upright a little outside the circles.

Li Muri, a prehistoric necropolis, only about 1 km northwest of Bronze age Li Lolghi (see previous uploads) is even older. It is late Neolithic, dated to 3.500 - 2.700 BC. ascribable to the Arzachena culture, that left structures like Li Muri on the islands of Sardinia and Corsica. Li Muri is composed by five stone cists, four of which are surrounded by circles of small slabs, that probably once hold a heap of small stones and earth covering the cists (about 5000 years ago). Menhirs stand upright a little outside the circles.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. So most of the old churches are in the mountains and some of them are hard to find. The 13th century chapel Santa Maria is one of them. It is located completely isolated in a dense forest, a steep path up from the road. The mystic place was a hermitage once. Just next to the chapel, in front of the ruins of the hermitage stands the Santa Maria statue-menhir ( aka "Corsoli Menhir", "Petra Frisgiata menhir"). It was discovered in 1893. The slim menhir (2.30 m high) has a carved head and got "christianised" by carving a cross on the chest. Many legends developed around this menhir, one tells this is a punished lazy woman who neglected to attend the church, another tells about a girl who digged into a grave with a stick. Nearby is the "Petra Frisgiata", a large stone with prehistoric geometric carvings.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Filitosa is a prehistoric site occupied from the ancient Neolithic until Antiquity. It is known for its spectacular concentration of menhirs statues with many details. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. Some of the menhirs are two or three meters high. They were erected around 1500 BC. This is the first menhir the visitor sees, having entered Filitosa. It is actually a copy. The original statue is taken away for conservation.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Filitosa is a prehistoric site occupied from the ancient Neolithic until Antiquity. It is known for its spectacular concentration of menhirs statues with many details. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. Some of the menhirs are two or three meters high. They were erected around 1500 BC. .

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Filitosa is a prehistoric site occupied from the ancient Neolithic until Antiquity. It is known for its spectacular concentration of menhirs statues with many details. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. Some of the menhirs are two or three meters high. They were erected around 1500 BC.

The island of Corsica is one of the 18 regions of France. It was colonized the Carthaginians, the Greeks, the Etruscans and the Romans. After the Roman empire collapsed, Corsica got invaded by the Vandals and the Ostrogoths. For a short while the island belonged to the Byzantine Empire, then the Franks granted the island to the Pope, in the early 11th century Pisa and Genoa together freed the island from the threat of Arab invasion. The island came under the influence of the Republic of Pisa, later it belonged to Genua for centuries. In 1755 after a long fight for independence from Genoa the independent Corsican Republic was proclaimed, but in 1769, when the island was conquered by France. As the areas near the coast over centuries have been threatened by attacks and raids of pirates many old hamlets and dwellings are wide inland, high in the mountains. Filitosa is a prehistoric site occupied from the ancient Neolithic until Antiquity. It is known for its spectacular concentration of menhirs statues with many details. The site was discovered in 1946 by the owner of the site, Charles-Antoine Cesari. Excavations began in 1954. The menhirs, representing armed characters, and the potteries found on the spot date from about 3300 BC. Some of the menhirs are two or three meters high. They were erected around 1500 BC.