Menhirs de la Rainière
site archéologique;menhir
PA00135565
French architectural heritage database reference.
Inscrit (1995)
Status under the French Heritage Act.
Menhirs de la Rainière — Site archéologique;menhir in Saint-Hilaire-la-Forêt (Vendée) inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) in 1995 under the French Heritage Act.
Identification & Protection
Mérimée reference
This monument is referenced in the French architectural heritage database (Mérimée) under the identifier PA00135565. Full archival records are published by the Ministère de la Culture at pop.culture.gouv.fr.
Protection status
The building is inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) (since 1995), the highest French-law category for heritage immeubles.
Deux menhirs juxtaposés (cad. A 179) : inscription par arrêté du 6 juillet 1995
Ownership
Current legal status: propriété privée.
Location & Access
Commune and département
Located in Saint-Hilaire-la-Forêt, Vendée, within the Pays de la Loire region of France.
Coordinates
GPS coordinates: 46.4714°N, -1.5281°E (WGS 84).
Nearby protected sites
| Monument | Commune | Protected |
|---|---|---|
| Maison dite Maison Billaud | Fontenay-le-Comte | 1983 |
| Menhir de Avrillé | Avrillé | 1889 |
| Logis Le Bâtiment de Saint-Juire-Champgillon | Saint-Juire-Champgillon | |
| Bâtiments du Gué de Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups | Sainte-Flaive-des-Loups | 1995 |
| Eglise de Angles | Angles | 1913 |
Loire Context
Architectural context
Built or restructured in the Néolithique.
Relative significance
Among the earliest-protected buildings of the département — a landmark of the 1840 heritage wave.
UNESCO landscape
The Loire Valley is inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage list since 2000 as a cultural landscape. Read the anchor page: Abbey Church of Saint-Savin sur Gartempe.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Menhirs de la Rainière located?
Menhirs de la Rainière is located in the commune of Saint-Hilaire-la-Forêt (Vendée).
When was Menhirs de la Rainière protected?
It was inscrit Monument Historique (inscribed) in 1995 under the French Heritage Act, with reference PA00135565 in the Mérimée database.
When was Menhirs de la Rainière built?
The main construction campaign dates from the Néolithique.
Data source: Ministère de la Culture — base Mérimée (data.culture.gouv.fr). Last updated: April 14, 2026.
Geographic location
Coordinates: 46.4714°N, -1.5281°E