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Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Farfadets stone, also called Merlière stone, is an exceptional megalith located in Poiré-sur-Vie, in the Vendée department (Pays de la Loire). This block of granite of about 10 tons, moved for about 80 meters from a nearby hill, is distinguished by its 362 engravings: 290 single cups, 15 circles, six crosses (including one circle), eleven anthropomorphic figures, and about twenty pediforms and eroded patterns. These engravings, typical of rock art, make it a rare testimony of regional prehistory.

The monument was officially recognized for its heritage value and classified as historic monuments by order of 31 May 1939. Its name evokes the farfadets, local folk creatures, although its exact origin and precise dating remain undetermined. The similar rock outcrops in the vicinity suggest an old granite mining in this area, without the methods or artisans being documented.

Available sources, such as Bertrand Poissonnier's Prehistoric Vendée (1997), highlight its archaeological importance among the megalithic Vendean sites. The stone is listed in the Merimée base under Insee code 85178, with an approximate location at 4 La Merlière. Its state of conservation and accessibility (noted as "passable" in terms of geographical accuracy) are a subject of study for researchers, while remaining a mysterious place for visitors.

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