When people think of megaliths, their first thought is often of “standing stones” or menhirs. (In Portuguese: menir) These are large stones, often carved into a cylindrical or conical shape. They can stand individually or in groups, called cromlechs. Many menhirs in Portugal were toppled sometime in antiquity. Menhirs that are seen standing have often been re-erected by archaeologists. Some menhirs have been moved from private land into museums.
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Menir da Cabeça do Rochedo
Standing midway up a hill, overlooking the Algarve coast, the scrubland stretches around you. The power lines above emit a faint hum and you can hear some sounds of work from the nearby quarry. Before you, the battered and scarred stone leans slightly to one side, as if it was tired from its long vigil.…
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Cromeleque das Fontainhas
Also known as: Cromeleque do Monte das Fontainhas Velhas Standing above the flat sandy soil, the stones aim for the sky, pointing the way to heaven. Walking among them, feeling their smooth shapes and measuring their arrangement, one can only ponder their construction and purpose. Was this a temple? An astronomical marker? A social gathering…
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Menhirs of Vilarinha
Hiking up and down the hills of central Algarve, the remnants of the past are all around. There are medieval burial sites all around, and then there are the menirs. In a line running northeast to southwest, red sandstone obelisks stand sentinel over the hills. Each one different, they each have distinctive markings and shapes.…
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Menir dos Almendres
As you follow the well-trodden (and well-worn!) path, with wired fences on either side of you, you get the feeling that you are simply being herded to something very pedestrian and unimpressive. The nearby farm buildings do nothing to allay you of your suspicions that you are wasting your time. And then the fences fall…
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Cromeleque dos Almendres
Stand on the grassy hillside, facing west, surrounded by cork oak trees, and notice the wind blowing and the birds calling. In the far distance, you can just hear the hum of cars & possibly the noise of farmers calling out to their workers. In the far distance, you can glimpse the city of Évora.…