Menhir de la Garde

About

The Great Menhir of the Guard, also called Great Stone of the Home of the Guard or The Vinegar Stone is a menhir located in Cholet (Maine-et-Loire).

History: Initially the menhir stood southwest of Cholet, in the ditch by the road of Maulévrier, 70 m before the Farm of the Guard. On an engraving by Millet de la Turtaudière dated 1865, the menhir stood still vertically, but its gradual collapse towards the road required lighting at night and it was decided to move it. He was transported to the Garden of the Mail in 1888 on a special cart from Nantes and coupled with sixteen oxen, representing a transport of 30 tons over 5 km. About 300 m southwest of this original location, a second menhir, the little menhir of the Field of the Guard, remained in place.

The menhir is a prism made of local granite, called granite of the Aubiers, with almost square section with rounded corners and atops, of a height of 3.60 m including 70 cm buried. During his relocation to the foot of the ramparts of Cholet, his initial orientation was not respected. The face which then has a small niche and a plate is originally the...