The word cromlech, which comes from the Celtic language (crom means circle and lech means stones), describes its essence exactly: 46 steles are aligned in a slightly elliptical circle with a diameter of 84x72 meters. Each stele is stuck in the ground at a distance of about 3-4 m from the others.
This sacred place was created by the Celts in a period dating back to about 2700 years ago, when the “cult of stones” was practiced. In Tir Na Mor Art (Land of the Great Bear, the Aosta Valley of the Celtic era), Vestals and Druids were at home and studied celestial phenomena and practiced rituals here.
The cromlech is oriented with the Summer Solstice: on the longest days of the year when the sun sets, the shadow of the two peaks behind the Sacred Circle is reflected on the ground and embraces its perimeter, leaving only the center of the circle to the sun.
Wars and adverse weather conditions have led to the gradual degradation of this place. Consider that from 1856 to 2012 the Colle road cut the Cromlech exactly in the center and about ten steles were removed, a fact that for the ancient Salassi would have represented a horrible sacrilege!