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Origin and history

The Dolmen de Vaon is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Trois Moutiers in the department of Vienna (New Aquitaine). Dating from Neolithic, it is an angeline dolmen, oriented north-west/south-east. Its cover table, broken in half, rests on five orthostats, with a sixth pillar overturned inside. Two pillars in front of the entrance form the remains of a portal. The chamber, about 6 metres long, has a variable width (2.50 m at the bottom, 2 m at the entrance) and a height of 1.50 m. A pillar bears a trace of incision, and two blocks near the entrance could indicate internal compartmentation.

According to the research, the building slabs could come from the Butte de Saint-Drémont. The site has been classified as historical monuments since 20 December 1956. A local legend tells that the devil, surprised by Sainte Radegonde, would have projected cakes of stolen butter, forming the dolmens of Vaon, Bernazay, La Roche-Vernaize and La Butte de Saint-Drémont.

The dolmen of Vaon illustrates the megalithic architecture of angevin, with a partially preserved structure. Studies, such as those of Arnault-Poirier, underline its importance in the archaeological landscape of Vienna. The site is referenced in the Inventory of Megaliths of France (1996), confirming its historical and heritage interest.

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