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Origin and history

Gargantua's menhir Queuse, also known as Gargantua's Queue, is a block of sandstone measuring nearly 4.5 metres high, one third of which is buried in the ground. Located at the entrance of the village of Borest coming from Senlis, at the crossroads of the Nanteuil road (D 330a) and the rue aux Pierres, it was classified as a historical monument by order of 10 July 1944. The term queuse refers to a sharpening stone, although its original function remains uncertain.

Borest, a rural commune of the Oise in the Hauts-de-France region, is marked by a varied historical heritage, including this menhir, a probable vestige of the prehistoric period. The village, located near the forest of Ermenonville and crossed by La Nonette, also preserves medieval and modern traces, such as the church Saint-Martin or the remains of the priory Sainte-Geneviève. The Queuse de Gargantua, by its size and strategic location, is an emblematic landmark of the territory.

The region, rich in megalithic sites, bears witness to an ancient occupation, although precise data on the period of construction of this menhir are lacking. Its classification in 1944 reflects the heritage interest accorded to these remains, often associated with local legends, such as Gargantua, a mythical figure in French literature. Today, the menhir remains a symbol of Borest's historical identity, integrated into a preserved rural landscape.

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