Covered alley known as the Druid altar

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Key figures

Origin and history

The Autel des Druides, also known as the Rocques covered alley, is a megalithic monument located in the municipality of Moitiers-d'Allonne, in the department of Manche (region Normandy). This site, sometimes mistakenly confused with the neighbouring municipality of The Hague-d'Ectot, is distinguished by its 19.80-metre-long elongated structure, consisting of thirteen orthostats on the east side and four still in place. The sandstone slabs form a typical Neolithic burial chamber with a slab height of 1.90 metres.

Covered walkway was classified as historical monuments on 8 January 1906, at the initiative of Léon Coutil, a local figure involved in the preservation of heritage. The site, known as Grand Breuil, illustrates the prehistoric funeral architecture of the region, marked by the use of massive stones arranged to create sacred spaces. Its partial conservation status (four remaining covering slabs) reflects the challenges of long-term preservation.

Although the sources mention "a priori satisfactory" location accuracy (note 6/10), the Druid altar remains an emblematic example of Neolithic collective burials in Lower Normandy. Its early classification in the early 20th century reflects the growing interest in the protection of prehistoric remains in France, in a context where these monuments were still threatened by agriculture or stone removals.

No information is available on its exact use or the rituals associated with it, but its structure suggests a funerary and perhaps symbolic function, as is often the case for the alleys covered by this period. The archived data (Merimée, Monumentum) confirm its status as a protected monument, without specifying whether it is accessible to the public or integrated into a tourist trail.

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