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101192 Pictures << Previous Picture | Next Picture >> Peyrelade menhir (Gard)
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Unless otherwise stated, this image is the copyright of the submitter. Contact them for permission to reproduce it. |  | | Description | Peyrelade menhir.
Over the valley of Arre and Aumessas and Arrigas villages (the beginning of the words of places in " Arr " or " Ar " would be the vestige of an old word ligure or celto-ligure meaning "water"), the granitic massif of Saint-Guiral amounts to 1415 metres and is covered with snow in winter and in spring. It is a place of rides appreciated by the walkers in the middle of ferns, oaks, spruces and others conifers.
On the road, Peyrelade menhir stands and waits that the young ladies rub there because it has the power of the fertility. It is granite and measures 1.70 meters.
Farther, the purpose of the journey is the peak Saint-Guiral at the end of the road.
At feet of the peak Saint-Guiral in shape of sugar bread is "Saint-Guiral's big slept menhir" 4,50 metres in length.
Not far from it is, "Saint-Guiral's small menhir " 1.50 metre tall. It still stands.
Farther in front of Big Menhir, there is a " menhir of Pélerins ", 2.50 metres tall. It is always a place of catholic assembling the day of Pentecost. The participants in the mass outdoors which takes place at feet of the menhir) come on foot since the valley until the menhir. This strange Christian tradition has certainly sources in a prehistoric rite.
By by-passing the peak Saint-Guiral, ride allows to discover " Saint-Guiral's grave ". It is an impressive natural granite arc, but it is sure that his curvature was stressed and polished a very long time ago. There is a cross engraved over the entrance of the "grave" (to Christianize the building?)
In front of the entrance, a stone to the summit rounded off wears a beautiful well drawn cupule.
A little farther, the walls of ancient one abbey or chapel dating the Means - age are always visible.
At the top of the foot Saint-Guiral, is tracks engraved in the granite in shape of foot (" pédiformes " in French) or big and wide cupules (about diameter 20 centimeters and levies in French "pond"). Maybe was it in touch with a prehistoric cult of the rain or some water.
Saint-Guiral was the name of a medieval knight who chooses to withdraw in hermit on this mountain to forget a sorrow of love. He spent all his life there and finally the body was deposited under the stony arc (to see above) which became its grave. This knight become a hermit gave his name to the mountain.
It should a magnificent place be visited and to spend a superb picnic.
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