Essonne

Francais

Essonne (department 91), France

In front of the church at Buno-Bonevaux there is a "polissoir" / polishing stone, almost spherical in form.

The standing stone known as La Pierre Droite de Prunay indicates an associated megalithic site.

At Janville-sur-Juine there is a dolmen known as la pierre levée, standing at the edge of a wood close to the farm at Pocancy. The rectangular chamber is entered by a less tall entry porch; open to the east. The capstone is believed to weigh around 16 tonnes.

The 4m tall menhir of silicious sandstone close to the farm at Paly, Milly-la-Forêt, stands amongst fields. At it's foot lies a recumbent stone, with cup marks, indication that this was a place of ritual.

The area around Buno-Bonnevaux has been inhabited since neolithic times. Here there are many sacred sites, all oriented selon to the solstices et equinoxes. The principal sites have been christianised. Thus one finds that the main church is dedicated to Saint-Léger-aux-Liens - christianised form of the celtic "Lug-aux-Liens". The original name of "Le Cave-au-Loup", close to the "Pierre Droite", was probably named after Lug.

The huge menhir du Paly is closeby - part of the site where many neolothic "polissoirs" (= polishing stones) are to be found. The recumbent / femin megalith and the phallic menhir have always been used, as they are today, in fertility rites

Until 1970 there was, at the church at Buno a cult dedicated to St Greluchon. Women who had pregnancy problems came here to rub at the foot of the saint who took them under his cassock! Processions are still made to the ancient sites, following the traces of "la vouivre" / the Dragon/Serpent leys.

Here the megaliths still act as earth acupuncture points and many people, mytholigists, country people, neo-druids and shamans frequent these places.

At the beginning of the last century the dolmen de Janville-sur-Juine was emptied and the remains of the 17 people who had been interred here, along with grave goods, were scattered in the adjoining fields.

A neolithic polissoir (= polishing stone), almost spherical in form, is to be found within a few hundred meters, in front of the church at Buno-Bonevaux.

The standing stone known as La Pierre Droite de Prunay indicates an associated megalithic site.

At Janville-sur-Juine there is a dolmen known as la pierre levée, standing at the edge of a wood close to the farm at Pocancy. The rectangular chamber is entered by a less tall entry porch; open to the east. The capstone is believed to weigh around 16 tonnes.

The 4m tall menhir of silicious sandstone close to the farm at Paly, Milly-la-Forêt, stands amongst fields. At it's foot lies a recumbent stone, with cup marks, indication that this was a place of ritual.