By Lisa Gibson, http://misswissbliss.wordpress.com/
Did you know that Switzerland has its very own version of Stonehenge situated in Yverdon-les-Bains? Located on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel, in a clearing in the Champ-Pittet nature reserve, is a formation of 45 stones of Neolithic origin, known as the Menhirs de Clendy. (Menhir is the term used for an upright monumental stone of prehistoric origin.)
The level of Lac de Neuchâtel was artificially lowered at the end of the nineteenth century and this led to the discovery of several archaeological finds, most notably, the Stone Age site of Clendy.
Between 1869 and 1883, the level of the lake decreased by 2.7 m following the first correction of the Jura waters. It was in 1878 that these menhirs first appeared on the waters surface. An engineer confirmed that the giant stones had been placed there by a Neolithic people over 6 000 years ago. This was later backed up in 1975 by a scientist who confirmed that the menhirs had in fact, been strategically aligned in an oval formation which permitted “a view from East to West, from rivers to mountains and from the stars to the moon”. At that time, the site was clear of any trees, so the uninterrupted views must have been quite something to behold.
Located at the southeast end of the lake, these alpine rocks vary dramatically in size - the biggest measuring up to 4.5 m high and weighing around 5 tons. Some of the smaller stones at Clendy are concrete casts but the originals can be seen at the museum in Yverdon. The stones were shaped to resemble the human form and it is believed that they represented gods or ancestors. The site is thought to have been an important gathering place for social and religious occasions.
The menhirs were re-erected in 1986 in their original positions after erosion and lake transgression caused them to collapse in 850 BC.
If you’re a fan of history and archaeology, you’ll find this place especially interesting, if not a little eerie and magical at the same time. It’s also conveniently located for a day trip from the Geneva/Lausanne region.
How to get there
By public transport: from the CFF Yverdon-les-Bains station, take either bus 601 direction "Gymnasium" or bus 603 direction "Bellevue" to stop “Clendy”.
By car: Starting from the Yverdon beach, you reach the site via a public footpath, which runs along part of the lake and the natural reserve of the Great Caricaie.
Author's bio
Originally from South Africa, Lisa Gibson moved to Switzerland in 2011 with her fiancé and has enjoyed every minute of this adventure. Currently based in Lausanne, she's a freelance and feature writer. She started her personal blog as a means of documenting her travels (both in Switzerland and around the rest of Europe) and as a way to share the expat experience with friends and family back home.
Lisa's love for Switzerland goes back to when she first visited as a teenager more than 15 years ago - so living here has been like a childhood dream come true! As an adult, her love affair with Switzerland continues… she loves exploring the region and discovering the lesser-known gems, often not mentioned in the tourism brochures.
The saying “Travel is the only thing you buy that makes you richer” could not be more true for her.
http://misswissbliss.wordpress.com/
