Allée Couverte du Bois de la Plesse, Archaeological site and passage grave in Lithaire, Montsenelle, France
The Allée Couverte du Bois de la Plesse is a prehistoric passage grave and megalith located in Lithaire, in the commune of Montsenelle in the Manche department of northern France. The structure consists of nine large upright stone pillars forming a covered corridor oriented roughly west to east, with a vestibule and a separate chamber divided by a low flat-stone wall.
The monument was likely built toward the end of the Neolithic period, roughly 4,000 years ago, and was probably used for burial or ritual purposes. It was found in 1964 by a researcher, after which early excavation work began.
The Allée Couverte du Bois de la Plesse is one of the few structures of this type found in Normandy, as similar monuments are mostly seen in Brittany and Ireland. This points to possible connections between the communities of these regions in prehistoric times.
The site sits within a quiet wooded area near a natural sandstone ridge and can be reached on foot without much difficulty. There are no modern facilities on site, so wearing sturdy shoes and allowing extra time for the approach is a good idea.
During the excavation of the monument, a small clay pendant with a cone-shaped hole was found inside the structure, a rare find for this type of site. Objects like this are often linked to ritual or symbolic practices and are rarely documented in Normandy.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
