Rocher de la Fileuse, Rock outcrop in Saint-Plantaire, France
The Rocher de la Fileuse is a rock outcrop in Saint-Plantaire, in the Indre department, overlooking the valley where the Creuse river meets the Sédelle. From the top, visitors can see steep cliffs dropping to the water below and, on the far bank, the ruins of the medieval fortress of Crozant.
The area around the rock has been inhabited for a very long time, with traces going back more than 6,000 years. Near the main path, two large stone blocks known as sacrifice stones are thought to date from between the Neolithic period and the Bronze Age, and were likely used for ancient ceremonies.
The Rocher de la Fileuse takes its name from an old local legend about a young shepherdess who had to pass a spindle down from the top of the rock and back up again, while a lord watched. If she succeeded, she was crowned with flowers and invited to the castle.
The path to the Rocher de la Fileuse starts from the small hamlet of Le Montet and is short and gently sloped, but the ground can be uneven, so sturdy footwear is a good idea. There are no facilities on site, no toilets or running water, so it is best to bring everything you need for the day.
The so-called sacrifice stones near the path still show carved channels where animal blood was meant to flow during rituals, along with a hollow thought to have held the animal's head. These stones sit just a short walk from the viewpoint and are open to visitors.
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