Rocks that Used to be People

by Michelle Cassidy

21 Places

Penrith, England

Long Meg and Her Daughters

Legends say this red sandstone monolith and the dozens of smaller boulders that surround it were once a coven of witches—before a Scottish wizard turned them all to stone.

katielou106

Added by katielou106

Bristol, England

Stanton Drew Stone Circles

One of the largest megalithic complexes in England, which local legend holds is a wedding party turned to stone by the Devil.

Added by gianfrancotrucchi

Newton Abbot, England

Bowerman's Nose

The legend says that this English rock formation was once a hunter who was turned to stone by annoyed witches.

EricGrundhauser

Added by EricGrundhauser

Fetlar, Scotland

The Hjaltadans Stone Circle

On a remote island, legend has it that a fiddler and his wife were turned to stone.

avalinakreska

Added by avalinakreska

Minions, England

The Hurlers

Cornish legend says these ancient circles were people turned to stone for playing hurling on a Sunday.

Melanie Xulu

Added by Melanie Xulu

Hvítserkur

Rising from the sea like a stone monster.

Belogradchik, Bulgaria

Belogradchik Rocks

Bizarrely shaped rock formations in northwest Bulgaria come with equally bizarre legends.

Added by kalaza

Oyndarfjørður, Faroe Islands

Rinkusteinar

Two massive boulders, rocking back and forth with the ebbing of the sea.

The Minx

Added by The Minx

Callanish, Scotland

Callanish Stones

The mysterious megaliths have enchanted and intrigued visitors for thousands of years.

Kerry Wolfe

Added by Kerry Wolfe

Chipping Norton, England

Rollright Stones

This trio of neolithic stone monuments are fabled to be a king and his knights that were petrified by a witch.

Added by aeb341

Ketenovo, North Macedonia

Kuklica

Stone pillars and a petrified wedding party in the hills of North Macedonia.

serflac

Added by serflac

Penzance, England

The Merry Maidens

Perhaps the only prehistoric monument with its very own public bus stop.

Added by DrMV and ProfPR

Sandavágur, Faroe Islands

Trøllkonufingur

Legend says this rock spire is the finger of a witch who wanted to throw the Faroe Islands towards Iceland.

Added by Obscuravibes

Pierre-Châtel, France

La Pierre Percée

According to a local legend, this peculiar mountaintop rock formation is actually a demon that was turned into stone.

Patrick H

Added by Patrick H

Face Rock

According to legend, this rock represents a young girl trapped by an evil ocean spirit.

thomasharper

Added by thomasharper

Isle of Skye, Scotland

The Old Man of Storr

An ancient Scottish rock formation said to be the gravesite of a giant remains ensconced in legend and intrigue.

Added by Rachel Gould

Touchet, Washington

Twin Sisters

Legend says that these tall basalt pillars are the petrified wives of a trickster god.

MrJoshua

Added by MrJoshua

Kranjska Gora, Slovenia

'Ajdovska Deklica' ('Heathen Maiden')

An unmistakable facial pareidolia in the Julian Alps also includes a fantastic tale.

Fred Cherrygarden

Added by Fred Cherrygarden

Ben Amera Monolith

The second largest monolith in the world was once betrayed by its lover, Ben Aicha.

daynix

Added by daynix

Jökulsárgljúfur, Iceland

Karl og Kerling

Legend has it these two stones are petrified trolls.

Added by Lakehurst

Florence, Italy

La Berta

Legend says this mysterious stone head belongs to a woman who was petrified by an alchemist.

Added by hapichapi

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