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Origin and history

The Menhir du Pas-Dieu is a 2 meters long block of sandstone, currently lying on the ground near Perceneige, in the department of Yonne. Ranked a historic monument in 1889, it is located on the border of the communes of Sognes, Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes and Trancault. His megalithic character remained uncertain, and a cross was added to it around 1840. The stone is associated with a local legend reported by the teacher M. Goberot in 1882 evoking a challenge between God and Satan, whose footprint would have remained on the stone.

In 1975, the menhir was moved by the owner of the field where he was, before being moved back to his original location following a judicial conviction. The stone also marks a historic meeting point between the finishes of three ancient parishes. His status as a menhir, although contested, was formalized by Goberot, the first to qualify him as such. The legend and its administrative history make it an emblematic monument of local heritage.

The site is now owned by the municipality of Perceneige. Although its exact location is approximate (estimated at 6/10), there is still evidence of Neolithic beliefs and cultural practices in the Burgundy region. Available sources, such as the works of Pierre Glaizal (2007), highlight his historical and folk interest, despite doubts about his megalithic origin.

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