Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Menhir de la Nivardière, also called La Drue à Gargantua ou Quille à Gargantua, is a block of Beauce limestone erected during the Neolithic period. Located in Beauce la Romaine (Loir-et-Cher), it is 3.20 m high for 2 m wide at the base and 1.20 m thick. This megalith is part of a set of three stones linked to the legend of Gargantua, a mythical giant who, sitting on the bell tower of Tripleville, would have thrown this menhir like a keel during a game.

Ranked as historical monuments in 1889, the menhir illustrates the importance of megaliths in local folklore. According to tradition, Gargantua used this block as a keel, while a pallet (located 90 m west) and a Plat in Gargantua (where he warmed his soup) complete this legendary story. These elements testify to the anchoring of megaliths in popular beliefs, mixing history and imagination.

The menhir consists of limestone extracted on site, typical of the Beauce region. Its early protection (1889) emphasized its heritage value, while its approximate location near Rue de la Source in Beauce la Romaine made it an accessible vestige of the Neolithic past. Sources, such as the French Megalith Inventory (1974), confirm its membership in a network of megalithic sites in the Loir-et-Cher.

External links