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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Menhir de la Belle Roche, located in Culey-le-Patry in the Calvados department, is an emblematic vestige of Neolithic. This shale block, 5.30 meters long and 2.70 meters wide, is located at the bottom of a wooded valley, overlooking the creek of Herbion. Reversed in 1840 after being unbalanced by treasure seekers, he was once considered the largest menhir in Calvados. Its deep cuts on the slice and its fall are linked to local legends, including that of a treasure hidden under the stone.

Ranked a historic monument on May 19, 1954, the Belle Roche is surrounded by popular narratives, such as that of its magical rotation on Christmas night, simmering only with the rooster singing. These beliefs reflect the symbolic importance of menhirs in local traditions, often associated with druid practices or mysteries. The menhir also illustrates the damage caused by uncontrolled excavations, motivated by the search for imaginary riches.

Before its fall, the Belle Roche dominated the landscape of this rural area of Calvados, marking the territory of an ancient human presence. Its location, near a tributary of Orne, suggests a link to the natural pathways and neolithic activities of the region. Today, there remains a fragile testimony of this time, protected for its archaeological and heritage value.

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