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Roque Traoucado
Trip No.200 Entry No.63 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Roque Traoucado submitted by thecaptain on 13th Mar 2006. The sign beside the Roque Traoucado. Well, most of it anyway !
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Log Text: Drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Pic de Nore, Mazamet, Toulouse. These dolmens were up a steep hillside road from Villeneuve Minervois
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène
Trip No.200 Entry No.63 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène submitted by thecaptain on 14th Mar 2006. Up on top of a pine covered hill is an open flattish area, upon which is built this lovely tomb. It has all been much restored, so quite how much is original I do not know.
The first thing you see is a circular stone wall containing a stone cairn, about a metre high and about 25 metres in diameter, with upright slabs every 5 metres or so around its circumference. Within this is the remains of a massive structure, and a partitioned chamber.
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Log Text: Day out from Toulouse to explore Minerve ancient village, Rock tunnels, Morrel das Fadas, St Eugene. it was getting late and the roads and map didnt seem to match. I just followed signs to something like fairy hill, and on top of a hill was this amazing site, with a circular walled structure with various chambers and passages in it.
Morrel das Fadas
Trip No.200 Entry No.62 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4
Morrel das Fadas submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Dolmen des Fades, near to the village of Pepieux, in the Minervois region of Aude, southwest France
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Log Text: Day out from Toulouse to explore Minerve ancient village, Rock tunnels, Morrel das Fadas, St Eugene. On a little hill covered in pines to the south of the D52 road to the northeast of Carcassonne is found the remains of this teriffic allée couverte, the hill of the fairies, said to be the largest in southern France.
Le Cercle de Rennes-les-Bains
Trip No.200 Entry No.41 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Couldn't find on 21st May 2000. My rating: Access 3
Log Text: Visit Rennes-le-Chateau with some of the Americans. Walk into the hills to look for stone circle, but find nothing obvious.
Montségur
Trip No.200 Entry No.36 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 14th May 2000
Montségur submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur Pog, seen here from the southwest, has been inhabited and defended since neolithic times.
But it is more well known for its Cathar castle, and as the site of the slaughter of the last of the Cathars by the catholic church in 1244.
The Castle dungeon has a strange solar event each summer solstice, as the first rays of the rising sun shine right through the two arrow slots on one side, and straight out through two others on the far side. Was this built into it deliberately ? One mi...
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Log Text: Dad over to Toulouse for a long weekend. Explore Mirepoix. Montsegur, Couiza, Rennes-le-Chateau, very strange place. Gorges St George upper Aude valley, Col de Pailleres (2001m). Ax-les-Thermes, Tarascon, Foix, and back to Toulouse.
Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Trip No.200 Entry No.25 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Apr 2005. My rating: Access 5
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by thecaptain on 13th Dec 2003. The southern, upstream, entrance to the magnificent cave at Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France.
The river takes a shortcut through the hillside here, and has created a massive cave, which is so big that a fairly large road also runs through the cave.
Within this cave were found signs of life going back tens of thousands of years, and indeed the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower. The finds here gave the name Azilian to an entire prehistoric culture.
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Log Text: A lovely sunny day to explore the Ariege mountains. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. The usual drive through of Mas D’Azil on the way home to impress visitors. Get back to Toulouse late.
Montségur
Trip No.200 Entry No.23 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3
Montségur submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur Pog. The castle where the last stand of the Cathars took place against the Catholic Church can be seen here on top of the sacred hill known as the Pog. More than 200 unarmed Parfaits were defeated and burned here in 1244.
However, the Pog, seen here from the northwest, has been inhabited since neolithic times.
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Log Text: A lovely sunny day to explore. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. Mas D’Azil. Toulouse late.
Ancient defended settlement on top of the sacred hill known as The Pog at Montségur in Ariège. Although the main remains of the castle date back to the time of the Cathars, there is plenty of evidence that this hill has been inhabited since time immemorial. There is a little museum with lots of items in the village below the Pog.
Montségur is more well known as the site of the slaughter of the last of the Cathars by the catholic church in 1244, where after a long siege, 200 unarmed Cathar Parfaits were defeated and burned in a pyre by an army numbering 10,000. The Castle dungeon has a strange solar event each summer solstice, as the first rays of the rising sun shine right through the two arrow slots on one side, and straight out through two others on the far side. Was this built into it deliberately ? One might be a fluke, but two ?
Montségur museum
Trip No.200 Entry No.24 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Mar 2000. My rating: Access 4
Montségur museum submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur village. Looking down onto the village from the walls of the hilltop castle. There is an interesting museum in the village with all sorts of ancient stuff found here contained within.
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Log Text: Small museum with lots of items in the village of Montségur below the sacred hill known as Le Pog.
Carcassonne - La Cité
Trip No.200 Entry No.35 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Carcassonne - La Cité submitted by thecaptain on 19th Feb 2005. La Cité de Carcassonne, seen here from the south.
Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now mediaeval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
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Log Text: Dad over to Toulouse for a long weekend. Drive to Carcassonne via Naurouze and the Canal du Midi. Visit La Cité, Castle, Ramparts, Cathedral. Move on to Mirepoix for the night.
Carcassonne - La Cité
Trip No.200 Entry No.20 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5
Carcassonne - La Cité submitted by thecaptain on 19th Feb 2005. La Cité de Carcassonne, seen here from the south.
Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now mediaeval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
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Log Text: Drive from Toulouse to Carcassonne the slow way via Bram. Visit La Cité.
Dolmen de Tella
Trip No.200 Entry No.75 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: Spain (Aragón)
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 2000. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Dolmen de Tella submitted by thecaptain on 2nd Dec 2003. The Dolmen de Tella in the Spanish Pyrenees. A few miles to the south of Bielsa, a road climbs towards the top of the mountain with the ancient village of Tella at the top. Before reaching the top, there is this most spectacularly situated dolmen.
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Log Text: Ten days touring and exploring in the Pyrenees. Drive from St-Lary-Soulan through the Tunnel de Bielsa into Spain. Bielsa, Tella, Ainsa, then long way to Torla-Ordesa. this is a magnificently situated dolmen, high up on the mountainside below the village of Tella in the Spanish Pyrenees. A few miles to the south of Bielsa, a road climbs towards the top of the mountain with the ancient village of Tella at the top. Before reaching the top, there is this most spectacularly situated dolmen.
Carcassonne - La Cité
Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 1978
Carcassonne - La Cité submitted by thecaptain on 19th Feb 2005. La Cité de Carcassonne, seen here from the south.
Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now mediaeval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
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Log Text: Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now medieval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
Grotte de Niaux
Trip No.200 Entry No.15 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 16th Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Grotte de la Petite Caougno submitted by thecaptain on 14th Feb 2005. The main entrance to the fabulous Niaux cave used for visitors is now further up the hillside than it once was. In ancient times, there would have been several lower, smaller entrances. This picture is of one of the small side entrances to a cave shelter in the vicinity, in which ancient remains have been found.
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Log Text: Full guided visit Grotte de Niaux with Sean. Fabulous. So glad I booked this up last week.
Peyralade Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.38 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Peyralade Dolmen submitted by theCaptain on 9th Dec 2010. The large but broken capstone sits high above the ground on top of its two side supports (and 4 additional modern support stones).
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Log Text: This dolmen is easily found, as it stands on a traffic island at the junction of the D.5 and D.91 roads a couple of kilometres to the north of the village of Vaour, on the high plateau to the south of the river Aveyron, and is signposted from several kilometres away.
The large but broken 5 metres by 3 metres capstone sits high above the ground on top of its two side supports (and 4 additional modern support stones) covering a chamber 4 m by 2 m oriented towards the southeast at 135°. Traces of the mound which once covered this dolmen are still visible although now well spread out.
Although this dolmen has lots to recommend it, in its size and high position with splendid views, it unfortunately sits at a fairly busy road junction, and the modern support stones are perhaps a little too obvious.
Peyralade Dolmen
Trip No.200 Entry No.3 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 19th Mar 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Peyralade Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Dolmen de Peyralade, near to the village of Vaur, Tarn Southwest France.
This dolmen is on the top of the plateau which the Aveyron river cuts through in a splendid gorge.
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Log Text: A day driving NE from Toulouse. L’Isle-sur-Tarn, Gaillac, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Vaour, 2 Dolmens, Castelnau-de-Montmiral. The Dolmen de Peyralade, is near to the village of Vaur, Tarn Southwest France. This dolmen is on the top of the plateau which the Aveyron river cuts through in a splendid gorge.
Saint-Paul Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.39 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Saint-Paul Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 26th Jan 2006. Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, to the northwest of the village of Le Verdier along some tiny lanes, can be found this relatively large dolmen.
The massive capstone is a sort of triangular shape, with the pointed end at the back. The dolmen is all made of a very chalky white stone, which I am slightly surprised has survived this long.
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Log Text: Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, to the northwest of the village of Le Verdier along some tiny lanes, can be found this relatively large dolmen. It is perhaps easier to reach by walking along the GR footpath along which it is signposted from the village, than trying to drive towards. However, I drove to a point in the hills to the northwest from where it was also signposted "dans le Bosquet", and then walked back towards the village. Unfortunately, not knowing the word Bosquet, I spent ages looking, assuming it was in a hedgerow or little wooded copse which could be see further along the trackway. This is not the case, and to find the dolmen do not follow the footpath, but look across the field to the south and it can be seen at the corner of the wood at the far side.
The large white capstone is 2 metres off the ground covering a chamber 4 metres by 2 metres, with the usual two sidestones and a backstone. The northern side slab is broken, and only survives at the front half of the chamber. The massive capstone is a sort of triangular shape, with the pointed end at the back. The dolmen is all made of a very chalky white stone, which I am slightly surprised has survived this long.
Strange how when you know where things are, they are easy to find. Not only can you clearly see the dolmen from where I had parked, but I also passed a little sign towards it when walking down the footpath. Doh !
There also appears to be another large stone of some kind a bit further along the edge of the wood to the west, which I hadn't seen from when I was there, could this be the remains of another dolmen ? Dolmen de St Pierre ?
The view of the lovely fortified hilltop village of Castelnau-de-Montmiral in the distance to the south is splendid. Mmmm, I must now go and try some of the Gaillac fruit.
Saint-Paul Dolmen
Trip No.200 Entry No.4 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Couldn't find on 19th Mar 2000
Saint-Paul Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 26th Jan 2006. Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, can be found this relatively large dolmen.
The large white capstone is 2 metres off the ground covering a chamber 4 metres by 2 metres, with the usual two sidestones and a backstone. The northern side slab is broken, and only survives at the front half of the chamber.
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Log Text: Drive NE from Toulouse to visit Cordes-sur-Ciel and explore the area. On the way back visit Vaour, and also a quick look for this dolmen marked on the map before a stop at Castelnau-de-Montmiral. I saw nothing obvious from the car,
Pierre levée de Picarel
Trip No.200 Entry No.5 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Mar 2000
Pierre levée de Picarel submitted by johnstone on 23rd Nov 2018. The west side, Sep.13, 2018
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Log Text: Seen from the road during a drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Mazamet, Toulouse.
Grottes et abris préhistoriques de la vallée de la Save
Trip No.200 Entry No.55 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 22nd Jul 2000. My rating: Ambience 4 Access 5
Grottes et abris préhistoriques de la vallée de la Save submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Nov 2010. In the gorges of the river Save, just below the village of Lespugue, can be found many caves and shelters which have yielded ancient remains of habitation from up to 30,000 years ago.
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Log Text: Drive west from Toulouse to explore Gascony. Montmaurin, Mielan, Mirande, Condom, St Puy, Fleurance, Mauvezin, Cologne. Fields of sunflowers, beautiful. An intriguing little road through a gorge with lots of cliff shelters and cave which contained ancient remains.
Tourenne Gallo-Roman Villa
Trip No.200 Entry No.56 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 22nd Jul 2000. My rating: Access 5
Log Text: Drive west from Toulouse to explore Gascony. Montmaurin, Mielan, Mirande, Condom, St Puy, Fleurance, Mauvezin, Cologne. Fields of sunflowers, beautiful. Stopped by this Roman villa, but it was going to take too long for a proper visit, so satisfied myself with a look over the hedge from the car park.