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Heritage classified

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Origin and history

The Hauberie Stone, also known as the Hoberie Stone or the Robine Stone, is an imposing menhir of more than 2.50 metres in height. Located at the place called the Braulette or the Roche, near the Hauberie farm on the town of Ussy (Calvados), it stands in a wooded valley, near the stream of Leffard. The term hober, meaning "moving" or "raising" in former Norman, evokes a displaced or erected stone, reflecting its monumental character. Two other menhirs, Pierre du Pot and Grurie in Villers-Canivet, are nearby, suggesting a megalithic concentration in the region.

Ranked as historical monuments since October 26, 1945, this menhir is associated with local legends. According to a 19th-century story, a Leffard peasant attributed his erection to human curiosity or to a giant named Guerguintua, who would have "falled through a hole in his pocket" by the way. Stone was also known for attracting revenants and hiding a treasure, illustrating popular beliefs related to megaliths, often perceived as sacred or mysterious markers.

The site is part of a larger megalithic landscape, typical of Neolithic in Lower Normandy (now Normandy). These monuments, erected between 4500 and 2000 BC, were probably funerary, religious or territorial landmarks. Their preservation, like that of the Hauberie Stone, bears witness to the importance attached to this heritage since the mid-20th century, with strengthened legal protections. Menhir remains today a symbol of the rich prehistoric heritage of the region.

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