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Origin and history

The menhirs of the Lambert Farm are two erect stones located in the commune of Collobrières, in the department of Var. Cut in local micaceous gneiss, they are 3.15 m and 2.82 m high, respectively. Their alignment, 8.30 m apart, and their almost perfect verticality (for the first) or slightly inclined (for the second) suggest a deliberate implantation, although their exact function remains unknown. A recent inscription, "ROCH 26/6/1967", appears on the basis of Menhir No. 1, adding a modern trace to these prehistoric remains.

The first written mention of these menhirs dates back to 1886, thanks to the observations of Casimir Bottin. Their official protection came a century later, with an inscription under the title of historical monuments by order of 22 February 1988. Archaeological surveys conducted in 1987 by Hélène Barge revealed calving stones at their base, but no artifacts were discovered, leaving their precise dating unknown. The local legend combines these stones with the entrance of a mythical underground dug by monks, linking the site to the Chartreuse de la Verne.

A third menhir, recently discovered and straightened near the access road, completes this megalithic site. Proximity of gneiss outcrops, with excavations similar in size to menhirs, may indicate a local quarry for extraction. The studies carried out, notably by Hélène Barge and Eric Mahieu, highlight the importance of this site in the megalithic heritage of the Var, while leaving open questions about its original use and cultural context.

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