Could these stones talk? The Menhirs de la Haute-Borne hold secrets whispered by the Yerres River. Here at Brunoy, in the Essonne department, three ancient stones stand as remnants of the Neolithic period. The Menhirs de la Haute-Borne were declared a historical monument in 1977. The largest menhir, known as “La Haute-Borne à la Maîtresse”, measures an impressive 2.75 meters tall. It has a varied width, between 1.45 meters and a narrower section of 0.80 by 0.50 meters. This grand menhir has faced nature’s fury. A powerful flood once knocked it into the river. Around 1865, it was resurrected and its base reinforced with a metal hook. A second menhir, called “Le Gros Caillou” or the “Big Stone”, lies on the ground, just 5 meters upstream from the first. A third, smaller menhir stands nearby, only 4.40 meters away from “Le Gros Caillou.” It measures 1.75 meters high, 1.60 meters wide, and 0.60 meters thick. These stones, the Menhirs de la Haute-Borne, silently witness the passage of time, their stories waiting to be unearthed. They offer a glimpse into the lives and beliefs of those who erected them, a connection to a past shrouded in mystery.
Église Notre-Dame de l’Air
Beneath what appears to be a simple stone and wood structure lies a history interwoven with faith aviation and community.