The Cromlech of the Almendres is one of the largest ancient megalithic sites in Europe. It is down a maze of unpaved lanes in a forest of cork trees. It’s not on the scale of Stonehenge – there’s no visitor centre and no amenities, but The Cromlech of the Almendres dates to 5000 BC- 2000 years older than Stonehenge.
It is located about 15 KM from Evora, a Unesco World Heritage city with a Roman temple and a huge Gothic cathedral. Evora is the capital of Alentejo, Portugal's largest province.
There are about 90 huge, granite stones . The shapes are natural and weathered and several have decorations of what appear to be shepherds hooks.
When we were there we stayed for a week at a wonderful guest lodging called Monte Saraz, near the medieval town of Monsaraz and this Anta was nearby in the olive grove.
And we stumbled upon this one day while we drove around...
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oh, there are actually so many of them. It is good they look quite large, otherwise wouldn't be the same impressive effect
They were impressive to me because they had been placed there so long ago.
Wow! You share beautiful memories here! We are thinking about maybe going to portugal soon for just a few days. But we think about Lisabon... This site seems to be very interesting but it might be too far away for us being there for a short time.
Nevertheless, very fascinating place you are showing us!
I do love Lisbon! Have a wonderful time there and take lots of pictures for me. Did you see the Germany garden post that I made for you yesterday?
Oh, it's not decided yet. I am off for a couple of days in the end of August and we would love to go there. If we do, I will take a lot of photos for you!
a beautiful place and there are beautiful granite stones, definitely in a place with lots of rocks like that the atmosphere is definitely cool and pleasant.
Thanks. It was an interesting place to be!
Very interesting. I guess humans have been standing up rocks for longer than I ever imagined :)
Guess we have always been a strange bunch!😄
Wow , gambar bebatuan yang sangat keren sekali. Nice
It was so interesting to see such an ancient site.
You do know how much I appreciate seeing them! ❤
Must of been so exciting to actually touch them!
So many are fenced off, no touchie.Wow thank you very much for posting these @melinda010100!!
Sometimes there is a notch or a saddle in the distant
mountains as a sighting for the ancient astronomers.
That first photo kinda reminds me of some big toes
for some reason lol :-)
Just did a quick looking on goo-maps, quite a few
goodies around there.
There was so much to see and do that the days were filled with castles and pottery, great food and so many new sights! It would have been interesting to see more of the ancient sites, but I'm still quite thrilled that I got to see these. People gather at this one during the equinoxes.
That anta stone. I've seen one just like it in Kent? How interesting.
No one really knows why they did this. It is a puzzle and that last image? Some kind of fertility stone? :)
I always think that the antas look like Flintstone houses. I've seen another very similar one in France.
The last one is in the middle of the Allentejo plains and because of the unending flatness could probably be seen for a long distance. But you can think fertility stone if you want! No one would be able to say you were wrong!
More like standing boulders!! The last photo must be three times your height, and still standing tall, thats insane!!
Walking amongst them was like being in a crowd of friends! Wouldn't you think that thousands of years of erosion would have caused them to tip over?
Which means they must be much taller because they're likely to be embedded much deeper in the ground to not fall over.
Someone must know the answer to that, but I don't.
That's a lovely collection Melinda!
I loved every moment I spent in Portugal!
Wow!
That's really impressive.
I have my Portuguese friend right here with me and she is proudly looking at your post! ;) Sort of guilty as well as she never mentioned this place to me ever! ;) ;) ;)
Thanks for sharing. ☺
Resteemed.
She should be proud of Portugal for so many reasons! Hope you get to see some of these ancient sites someday! I posted a different one a few days ago, too.
She should be proud of Portugal for so many reasons! Hope you get to see some of these ancient sites someday! I posted a different one a few days ago, too.
Thanks for this post. I like it so much . I like the atmosphere, the air and the light of your photos. Looks Mediterranean, although not just in the Mediterranean, it looks like Greece a bit. The stones are spectacular and interesting for the inhabitants to stay in an area inhabited for a few thousand years, among the proofs left by ancestors. I think you felt really good there ... very beautiful last picture!
I do like Portugal a lot, and the light does feel a little like Greece. Glad you enjoyed this. Don't you wonder about the lives of the ancient people who placed those stones?
This is soo cool!
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They really are!
A very beautiful scene, rarely can anyone do it.
I think it is quite incredible that they have remained respected and undisturbed throughout all of history.
These stones are hugggeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
Those might be chess pieces on some gigantic board!
That would make perfect sense! Left from when giants roamed the land!
Aw, sweetie, sharing wonderful memories about my beautiful Portugal! I'm so happy you shared them with us! Be blessed, my dear Melinda! Resteemed!
It says a lot about the people of Portugal that these sites have remained respected and undisturbed throughout all of history without being locked behind fences and guarded.It is an impressive thing to see!
Indeed, sweetie. I just would like they were more protected and have a information center around. Like in other countries. But you're right, people respect those places, which is wonderful!