What secrets lie hidden behind the seemingly ordinary facade of a basketball court? Here, tucked away in the 14th arrondissement, stands the Menhir, a modern replica of a Neolithic standing stone. The Menhir, a gift from Brittany to Paris, stands as a silent sentinel of a time long past. This isn’t some ancient artifact plucked from the Breton countryside. It was erected in 1983, hewn from pink-grey granite by seven skilled Breton artisans.
The Menhir stands approximately two meters tall, its polished surface a stark contrast to the weathered stones of its prehistoric counterparts. A plaque at its base, now barely legible, commemorates its inauguration by Alain Poher, the then-President of the Senate. While not ancient, the Menhir’s presence in this Parisian neighborhood is no accident. It stands on Rue Vercingetorix, a street named after the Gaulish chieftain who challenged Caesar’s legions.
Nearby, a vibrant mural explodes across the gable end of a building, depicting scenes of prehistoric hunts and shamanistic symbols. The Menhir, then, is a piece in a larger tapestry of prehistory woven into the fabric of Paris. It serves as a modern reminder of France’s ancient heritage, a tie to a time when menhirs marked sacred spaces and tribal boundaries.