Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Menhir de Saint-Jeures is a megalithic monument located in the commune of Saint-Jeures, in the Haute-Loire department, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region. Dating from Neolithic, this menhir is distinguished by its location along the departmental road D 18. It is surmounted by a wrought iron cross, which earned it the local nickname of "The Cross of Peter". This name could refer to St Peter rather than to the matter of the cross itself.

The menhir was officially recognized for its heritage importance and listed as historic monuments by an order dated 5 January 1989. This protection specifically concerns the menhir itself, identified under cadastral reference C 503. The monument is mentioned in archaeological studies, such as those of Roger de Bayle des Hermens, who helped document the megalithic sites of the Eastern Upper Loire in the 1960s.

From a geographical point of view, the menhir is located near the Way of Changeas, in Saint-Jeures. Its location is estimated with average accuracy (level 5 on a scale of 10), based on available data. The site is referenced in the Mérimée base, which lists the French architectural heritage, and it is associated with documentary resources such as the bulletins of the Société préhistorique française.

External links