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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Dolmen de la Pierrelée is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Montsoreau, Maine-et-Loire, in the Loire Valley. It lies downstream of the confluence of the Vienne and Loire, on the left bank of the Loire. This dolmen, inscribed in historical monuments since 1970, is installed on a place called Pierrelée (or Pierre-Lée), a toponym derived from the Latin Petra Lata, meaning "large stone". This name clearly reflects the ancient presence of this imposing stone structure, which marked the local landscape.

Composed of stone blocks partially covered by a tumulus, the dolmen de la Pierrelée is a prehistoric construction whose exact use remains uncertain. Assumptions suggest that it could serve as a burial site, but also as a dwelling, a function confirmed by traces of later masonry. The building, now in the state of collapsed dolmen, retains two slabs of cover. He was occupied until 1861, when he ceased to be used as a dwelling. Its designation as historic monuments in 1970 protected this remarkable vestige of the regional megalithic heritage.

The site is located on cadastral plots C 338 and 339 of the commune of Montsoreau, in the department of Maine-et-Loire. Although its present state is that of a partially ruined monument, its archaeological and historical value remains significant. It reflects the funeral or domestic practices of prehistoric societies in the Loire Valley, a region rich in megalithic remains. The accuracy of its geographic location is estimated as fair (note 5/10), based on available data, which may complicate its accurate field identification for unwarned visitors.

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