Roches qui dansent (cromlech de la Roche qui danse)

Saint-Barthélemy-de-Vals

In a wood of chestnuts and oaks near Saint-Barthélemy-de-Vals, about fifty sandstone blocks form three rough circles: the Roches qui dansent, also called the cromlech de la Roche qui danse. Geologists see in them Eocene sandstone, laid down at the boundary between the granite of the Massif central and more recent rocks. In 1894 the departmental archivist André La Croix noted that the stones did not move and formed only a ‘false cromlech’; he thought they had been worked as a quarry. The round cavities that hollow them would be due to later millers or knife-grinders, without certainty, and not to Neolithic men. The legend, for its part, brings the stones to life: according to tradition, at the twelfth stroke of midnight on Christmas night, the rocks begin to dance. Fairies are said to protect the place, and Gargantua, passing through the region, is said to have left his mark there, as at the sand mound of Hostun, born when he emptied his shoe. The site has been listed since 19 January 1911 for its geological curiosity and its legendary character. People climb there today, as at Fontainebleau.

Getting there: Listed site open to the public, much frequented by walkers and climbers. The hiking loop (about 11 km from the village) has changed route because of a private estate, and hikers report gullied or slippery sections. Coordinates: Wikidata (limited precision), to be confirmed on the spot.

Opening times and access details are given as a guide only: check before you set out.

Ambient sound