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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Langenstein is an iconic menhir located in Soultzmatt, in the Haut-Rhin department, Alsace. This megalithic monument, 4 meters high, consists of very stony pink sandstone (pudding). It is located in the forest of Soultzmatt, at the site of Grosser Pfingstberg, near the Romanian military cemetery. Its name, Langenstein, literally means "long stone" in German, reflecting its elongated and imposing shape.

The date of the Langenstein remains subject to debate: some experts propose an origin around 560 BC, although its authenticity has sometimes been questioned. The menhir was reportedly rearranged and enhanced in 1906, before being officially classified as historical monuments by a decree of 18 July 1938. Today, it belongs to the municipality of Soultzmatt and is a rare testimony of megalithic constructions in Alsace.

This type of monument, typical of the Neolithic or Iron Age, was often associated with ritual, funeral or territorial functions. In the Alsatian context, menhirs are relatively rare, giving Langenstein particular importance for the study of local prehistoric practices. Its current location, near a 20th century military cemetery, creates a striking historical contrast between two distinct epochs.

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