Historical monument classification 1889 (≈ 1889)
Official list protection in 1889.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Menhir dit La Pierre des Hommes (Box B 9): ranking by list of 1889
Key figures
Information non disponible - No character cited
The source text does not mention any historical actors.
Origin and history
La Pierre des Hommes, also known as Pierre Tournante du Château des Hommes, is a menhir located in Coron, Maine-et-Loire department. This granite amphibole monolith, conical in shape with a rectangular base, is 3.60 meters long. Two small blocks of the same rock are visible nearby, reinforcing its megalithic character. According to a local tradition, the stone would have the peculiarity of turning on itself at the twelve strokes of noon.
Ranked as historical monuments in 1889, this menhir testifies to the importance of megalithic sites in Anjou. Its name "Pierre Tournante" and its legend reflect the popular beliefs and narratives associated with megaliths, often perceived as mysterious objects or with powers. The site is referenced in heritage inventories, notably via the Merimée base, and is one of the protected monuments of the department.
Available sources, including Michel Gruet's work Megalithes en Anjou (2005), confirm its status as an emblematic prehistoric vestige of the region. The menhir is located precisely at "5283 Le Logis, 49690 Coron", in an area where geographical accuracy is estimated to be fair. Its list classification in 1889 emphasized its heritage value since the 19th century.
