Sculpture de Gargantua

This project was born during the construction of the library in 2009. A project with the Fondation de France was initiated: the aim was to create a landscaped square on a communal plot of land so that residents and visitors could enjoy a topographical view of the surrounding area. Based on the idea of a small green theatre, this landscaped square includes a kiosk housing the statue representing Gargantua, a work by the artist Rachel Feinstein, proposed by the Fondation de France. This work refers to the hero of Rabelais who, according to local legend, is the author of the Auxois landscape:

Gargantua is a giant who haunted the region. He could have been the accomplice of the Beuffenie - an ugly, filthy old witch who haunts some of the sites in the Auxois, characterised by piles of strange rocks that are difficult to access - who used to hold passers-by to ransom for bread and salt, which were very precious commodities in those remote times.

Legend has it that Gargantua left us some traces of his passage... He would stride more than a league (4 km). For his dinner, he would easily eat a whole ox, 4 to 5 sheep, 10 chickens! One day, when he was so thirsty, he dried up the Brenne over a length of 2 leagues... Another time, after having drunk from the spring of the "cold fountain", Gargantua was snoring, one foot near Nan, the other near Fontangy. Suddenly there was a violent storm. So deep was his sleep that the giant did not even notice that a flock of sheep led by its shepherd rushed into his wide-open mouth to escape the rain. The poor shepherd, who was exploring the immense cavern that was Gargantua's mouth, woke him up by poking him with his staff. The giant snorted, swallowed the herd and its guardian, and shook off the earth stuck to his soles... The "pâtons" that came off became the Butte de Thil, the Mountain of Nan and Mount Ligot.

Legends are very present in our region! An official presentation will be organised in the presence of the different actors, for the greatest pleasure of our imagination!

Located close to the Précy-sous-Thil media library and the campsite