It is officially classified as a Monument Historique by the French Ministry of Culture.
The top of the menhir was significantly taller before being decapitated by a lightning bolt in the mid-18th century.
The granite used for the menhir originates from a geological deposit located several kilometers away, necessitating complex engineering for its transport.
Local tradition historically associated the two protrusions on the stone with fertility rituals, where couples would rub their bodies against the menhir.
It is the tallest surviving megalithic standing stone in France.
The Menhir de Kerloas is the tallest standing prehistoric monument in Brittany, France. It stands approximately 9.5 meters high and weighs an estimated 150 tons. The granite block was extracted from a quarry located roughly 3 to 4 kilometers from its current site. Archaeologists date the monument to the Neolithic period, likely around 3000 BCE. The stone is shaped like an elongated rectangle with two distinct protrusions on its upper faces, historically referred to as 'breasts' by local folklore. A lightning strike in the 18th century caused the top of the stone to fracture, reducing its original height. It is situated on a plateau at an altitude of approximately 100 meters above sea level.
Position yourself at the edge of the adjacent field to capture the menhir framed against the expansive Breton sky without modern power lines in the background.
Wear sturdy footwear as the ground surrounding the menhir is uneven and can be muddy.
Bring a windbreaker, as the plateau is exposed and weather conditions change rapidly near the coast.
The site is located in the middle of open farmland; respect the surrounding private property and crops.
Attempting to climb or touch the monument to preserve the stone's structural integrity and historical surface.
