ALLÉE COUVERTE SÉPULTURE MÉGALITHIQUE DE LA FORGE, BRETTEVILLE-EN-SAIRE

Near the hamlet of La Forge, just outside of Bretteville-en-Saire is an ancient megalithic gravesite known as the Allée Couverte, or “covered alley” which is over 4,000 years old.  Its length is roughly 17 meters and is composed of stones weighing several tons each.  There are seven table stones which cover the site that range from 1.80 m to 2.8 m in length and 40 to 60 cm thick; one is granite while the others are of local stone.  How they got there is still a mystery.  According to legend, they were made by fairies who used them as homes while others say dwarves kept their treasures buried there.  An excavation carried out in the seventies found that the area was actually used as a burial spot for many centuries although human remains were not found.  It is likely that the acidity of the soil left no trace of human bones.  Under several layers of soil many human artifacts were found including carved flints, scraps of pottery, a drinking goblet and a beautiful axe of polished stone.  It is classified as a Historical Monument.