Dolmen de la Maison des Fées, Neolithic dolmen in Miré, France.
The Dolmen de la Maison des Fées is a Neolithic burial chamber of Eocene sandstone slabs. A trapezoidal capstone rests on four upright stones; the pillars touch at the north and south corners, indicating a nearly square chamber about 3 m wide and over 2 m high. The northwest orthostat was destroyed when the road ditch was cut, and the ditch now runs through the centre of the monument.
This structure dates to the Neolithic period and belongs to a large group of burial sites built across western France. Official recognition as a protected historical monument came in 1911, marking its importance for archaeological research.
The name "Maison des Fées" (House of the Fairies) comes from a local legend that fairies built the dolmen. On the capstone, visitors can look for the marks said to be the imprints of the head and hands of the fairy who carried the stone. The monument is also called dolmen des Pierres chasses.
The site is located in Miré and can be reached by local roads, though it sits in rural surroundings. Planning ahead with directions is helpful since the monument is not widely signposted, and visitors should wear sturdy shoes for walking on uneven ground.
The road ditch was routed through the centre of the dolmen at an unknown date, and the north-western orthostat was destroyed when the ditch was cut. No objects or grave goods were recorded during that work. The capstone also has a slight hollow on its upper surface.
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