LE MENHIR DE MALVES
Do you want to fancy yourself as Obelix? Then, don't hesitate to take a walk in Malves-en-Minervois. A little way out of the village, about 500 m to the west, you can find one of the rare megalithic sites in Languedoc. At the turn of poppy fields, you will see it, rising majestically, alone and impassive as time goes by. Aging through the centuries, laid down as if by magic, this menhir is no less than 5 m high, 4 m underground, and 1.5 m wide, its weight is around 15 t, of grey sandstone from the region. It was restored in 1964 and classified as a historic monument in 1921. You can reach it by walking 5 minutes after your parking lot. The first mention of the menhir can be found in an 1818 report. In the region, the menhir is called the "pierre fichée" or peyro ficado. It is said that despite many attempts to find out the length of the buried part, no one has ever been able to reach its end. It is also said that one hundred and fifty years ago, the stone was smaller and that it grew year after year, legend tells of a supernatural virtue that makes it increasingly higher. Another legend has it that in the 8th century, the menhir prevented a Saracen army from seizing the city of Trèbes. Indeed, whereas it had just conquered Narbonne and was heading towards Carcassonne, the army made a detour and found itself in front of the menhir. It saw a divine sign that prevented it from continuing its journey and turned back.
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