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Origin and history

The Pierres-Folles, also called Pierres de Follet or Pierres de Gargantua, are two menhirs located in Rosnay, in the Vendée department. These megalithic monuments, about 8 metres apart, testify to the human occupation of the area during the Neolithic period. The smallest, 3.50 metres high, was overturned and straightened in the early 20th century, while the second, 3.66 metres long for a circumference of 5.25 metres, was slightly tilted westward.

These menhirs were listed as historic monuments in 1984, recognizing their heritage value. Their local name, "Pierres de Gargantua", evokes a popular legend linked to the giant Gargantua, a mythical figure often associated with megaliths in France. Their presence illustrates the importance of megalithic sites in the historical and cultural landscape of the Vendée.

According to available sources, including Bertrand Poissonnier's book La Vendée préhistorique (1997), these menhirs are part of a wider set of regional megalithic sites. Their official protection and their mention in databases like Mérimée underline their role in understanding funeral and ritual practices of neolithic societies in Pays de la Loire.

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