The stones of the Cromlech du Petit-Saint-Bernard

The Cromlech du Petit-Saint-Bernard is a megalithic complex located at the Petit-Saint-Bernard pass, at an altitude of 2,188 meters. It was built during prehistory by the Salasses, a population of Celtic origin, language, and culture. The site is situated on the watershed line between the Doré Baltais and Isère basins, on the border between Italy and France.

These 46 pointed stones form a circumference of 80 meters in diameter. The history of the site is complex; while it is difficult to define a precise date of construction because many stones have been moved or replaced over centuries, a dolmen may have occupied the center before the construction of the road in 1870. A temple from a much later period was found nearby, proving this area was a place of worship in antiquity. Local authors even wrote of a column of porphyry with a ruby eye, though a statue of Saint Bernard de Menthon stands there now.

This megalithic complex occupies a significant astronomical position. Each year, on June 21 during the summer solstice at 7:30 p.m, the sun sets behind a saddle of the Lancebranlette peak. As the sun drops, it projects two zones of shadow that progressively surround the circle of stones until only the center is illuminated. This reflects ancient rites linked to the solstices, which were significant and celebrated around sacred monuments.

Sources: Wikipedia, OpenStreetMap, Wikidata, Wikimedia Commons