The Menhirs of Monteneuf, also known as the Pierres Droites, form a large Neolithic complex in the Landes de Monteneuf, near the forest of Brocéliande. More than 420 monoliths have been identified across approximately 7 hectares, although only 42 are currently standing. Made from locally sourced purple schist, the stones appear in lines and groups across the heathland rather than forming one perfectly regular alignment. The archaeological site lies within the Regional Nature Reserve of the Landes de Monteneuf, which covers approximately 125 hectares and combines heathland, woodland and prehistoric monuments in a distinctive landscape.

 

The Menhirs of Monteneuf date from the Neolithic, broadly between 4500 and 3000 BCE. Many stones were overturned, buried or broken and by 1825 only three menhirs were still standing. A major rediscovery followed a heathland fire in 1976, which exposed stones that had been hidden beneath vegetation. Subsequent archaeological excavations, which began in 1989, made it possible to identify the original positions of numerous stones and to restore or re-erect around forty menhirs. The excavations revealed more than 420 megaliths as well as evidence of how the stones were quarried, transported and erected. Researchers identified prehistoric extraction areas in the surrounding schist outcrops, along with traces interpreted as transport routes and features associated with the use of wooden rails or sledges to move the stones. Excavations also uncovered several types of stone-setting systems, including packing stones around the bases of menhirs and more complex arrangements designed to secure the blocks in the ground.

 

Visitors reach the Menhirs of Monteneuf from the D776, where a dedicated parking area is approximately a 2-minute walk from the reception building. From there, the archaeological site is reached via a trail through the heathland, leading visitors among the prehistoric stones. The main route is approximately 1.5 kilometres long and is designed as an easy walk, although the natural paths can have uneven sections depending on the weather and ground conditions. Access is free and the site is open all year round.