What is a Menhir?

Geologists have a saying - rocks remember.
~Neil Armstrong

Today I learned that a menhir is a large, upright stone.

Dictionary

It is also a parser generator, a German pagan/black metal band, and a Spanish tapas bar (they have a typo on their page).

I found menhir whilst searching for images of the Tree of Knowledge, which seems like it would be a nice image for my "Learn something new every day" blog. My first thought upon reading the definition was "Stonehenge." Is it a Menhir, or several menhirs? Or is a menhir something else? Further research reveals that a menhir can also be an ancient stone monument. So yes, Stonehenge is a menhir.

There are pagan overtones attached to most menhirs. No one really knows who erected them, or why, so attaching a mystery to something mysterious certainly makes sense.

There are menhirs throughout Western Europe particularly in England and France. Menhirs can also be found in Asia, South America, and Africa.

Famous menhir in Carnac:

I'd like to see the menhirs of Languedoc.

Note: the Blogger spellchecker does not recognize the word menhir.

Something I found while researching menhirs: Manor House for sale, South of France  20+ rooms, 1.3 Hs Parc & Pool, views of Pyrenees (in caseyou were looking).