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Heritage classified

Origin and history

The Menhir du Bourg is an iconic megalithic monument located in Plouhinec, Morbihan department, Brittany. As a Neolithic, he testified to the cultural and religious practices of prehistoric societies of that time. This menhir, consisting of a single block of granite, is 2.40 meters high for 1.40 meters wide and 0.60 meters thick. Its erection dates back to a period when local communities organized their space around symbolic landmarks, often linked to funeral or astronomical beliefs or rituals.

The Menhir du Bourg has been recognized for its heritage importance and has been classified as historic monuments since January 25, 1964. This official protection underscores its archaeological value and its role in understanding Breton megaliths. Located precisely at 15 Rue des Spirantes in Plouhinec, it is referenced in the base Mérimée under the code Insee 56169, attached to the commune of Morbihan.

Menhirs, like the one in Bourg, were often territorial markers or elements of a sacred landscape for neolithic populations. Their establishment reflected a complex social organization, where these erected stones could serve as landmarks, gathering places or supports for spiritual practices. In Brittany, a region particularly rich in megaliths, these monuments illustrate an architectural and cultural tradition that spans several millennia, from the fifth to the third millennium B.C.E.

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