Construction period Néolithique (≈ 4100 av. J.-C.)
Estimated erection of the menhir.
1921
Menhir recovery
Menhir recovery 1921 (≈ 1921)
Intervention by Marcel Baudouin after reversal.
12 mai 1924
Historical monument classification
Historical monument classification 12 mai 1924 (≈ 1924)
Official protection by ministerial decree.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Heritage classified
Menhir du Pré-Doux (Box BI 147): Order of 12 May 1924
Key figures
Marcel Baudouin - Actor of preservation
Raised the menhir in 1921.
Origin and history
The Menhir du Pré-Doux is an iconic megalithic monument located in Notre-Dame-de-Riez, in the Vendée department (Pays de la Loire). This large block of sandstone, measuring 3 meters in length and width for a thickness of 0.70 meters, weighs about 12 tons. It reflects human activity and cultural practices during Neolithic, a period marked by the emergence of agriculture and livestock in the region.
Ranked under the title of historical monuments by order of 12 May 1924, this menhir experienced a turbulent history: overthrown at an indefinite time, it was raised in 1921 thanks to the intervention of Marcel Baudouin. The latter, although not detailed in the sources, played a key role in preserving this prehistoric heritage. The menhir illustrates the importance of megalithic sites in Vendée, a region rich in remains of that time.
Menhirs, such as the Pre-Doux, were often associated with symbolic, religious or commemorative functions in the Neolithic. Their erection reflected a complex social organization capable of mobilizing significant human and technical resources. In the vendean context, these monuments are part of a wider landscape of megalithic sites, reflecting an ancient and structured human occupation.
