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Maison Neuve menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.16 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5
Maison Neuve menhir submitted by TheCaptain on 2nd Jul 2007. Maison Neuve menhir is about 3.5 metres high, and there are several other blocks of quartz beside it.
I could not tell whether these are bits which have fallen off it, another broken menhir, or simple field clearance stones. The menhir is nicely shaped at the top which seems to rule out the first option.
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Log Text: This is a beautiful white quartz menhir standing beside the road to Morhannais to the northeast of Monterrain. It is about 3.5 metres high, and there are several other blocks of quartz beside it, which are either bits which have fallen off it, another broken menhir, or simple field clearance stones. The menhir is nicely shaped at the top which seems to rule out the first option. Even in the bright hot sunshine of the day I visited, the stone felt nice and cool. Lovely.
Piprais menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.15 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Piprais menhir submitted by TheCaptain on 29th Jun 2007. This 4.5 metre tall menhir can be found in a field just to the northeast of the village of Monterrein.
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Log Text: This 4.5 metre tall menhir can be found in a field of sweetcorn just to the northeast of the village of Monterrain, near to a roadside cross. The menhir, a white quartz looking stone, seems to be splitting into two. Apparently there is another fallen stone nearby, but hidden from view by the maize.
Dolmen de la Maison-Trouvée
Trip No.204 Entry No.14 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen de la Maison-Trouvée submitted by thecaptain on 8th Aug 2007. Dolmen de la Maison-Trouvée - the sign board.
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Log Text: This is an Angevin type dolmen with a massive rectangular chamber still mostly buried within its tree covered mound. The chamber is about 4.5 metres by 2.5 metres and is topped by a massive 6 metres by 3 metres capstone. As often seems to be the case with the Angevin dolmens I have seen, the side slabs are accurately shaped so that they fit together extremely well, and the whole chamber is very straight sided and regular. Unusually, the portal doorway opens towards the west. I cannot tell how high the chamber is, or whether there is a floor, as the thing is still half buried. The circular mound, about 20 metres in diameter, has lots and lots of white quartz stones in its makeup. It has been dated to about 3000 BC. It is signposted and easily found from the village of Monterrein.
L'Hotié de Viviane
Trip No.204 Entry No.12 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3
L'Hotié de Viviane submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Jun 2007. The site was excavated in 1982/1983, when pottery and polished axes were found, and it was carbon dated to about 3000 BC.
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Log Text: This can be found about a kilometre walk from the same car park that is used to visit the Tombeau des Géants, but in the other direction. It is signposted. Just below and to the north of a ridge with tremendous views can be found this little grave, about 3 metres long and 1 metre wide, made with 1.5 metre tall side slabs. It is enclosed within a 12 metre diameter stone cairn with a ring of stones around the outside. It is supposedly a rarity in Brittany, but reminds me of a more complete version of the smaller tombelles near to the Rocher de Bono.
The site was excavated in 1982/1983, when pottery and polished axes were found, and it was carbon dated to about 3000 BC. It is also know b ythe name "Tombeau des Druides.
Tombeau des Géants
Trip No.204 Entry No.11 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Tombeau des Géants submitted by TheCaptain on 8th Jun 2007. The signboard near the site.
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Log Text: Also known as "Roche a la Vieille", or "Old Hag's Rock", this is a strange little monument high up in the hills by the GR37 footpath, a kilometre or so from a large parking area. What it is now is a 4 metre long, 1 metre wide coffre type grave, made using 4 large stone slabs and many other smaller stone bits making up the ends.
It is supposedly a bronze age burial tomb, but constructed from some previous megalithic standing stones from the area. Not far from the tomb is a fallen 4 metre long menhir, and several other pieces of rock. There was probably a line of large menhirs here in long distant times, which have been re used.
La Verrie menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.10 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 2 Access 5
La Verrie menhir submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Jun 2007. The stone is nearly 5 metres tall and 4.5 metres in width, but is less than 0.5 metre thick.
It resembles the comb of a cockerel from some angles the way the top edge has become serrated.
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Log Text: This is a nice stone, fairly easily found near to the farm of La Verrie a kilometre or so to the northeast of Monteneuf. The stone is nearly 5 metres tall and 4.5 metres in width, but is less than 0.5 metre thick. It resembles the comb of a cockerel the way the top edge has become serrated. The stone is near to the corner of a field, only 20 metres from the lane, but also only 30 metres from the farm, with all sorts of buildings and machinery around, which detracts from the atmosphere of the stone.
Rocher Maheux
Trip No.204 Entry No.8 Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Rocher Maheux submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Jun 2007. What a terrible state the remains of this allée couverte are in. It is now not much more than a row of stones in the edge of a wood, and very overgrown.
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Log Text: What a terrible state the remains of this allée couverte are in. It seems to have been pushed about to the edge of the field, and is now not much more than a row of stones in the edge of a wood. The remains are about a dozen slabs, roughly lined up, but probably only in line with the edge of the field. It is however signposted and on the megalithic trail walk from Monteneuf, but it is not worth the detour.
Lande de Rousse
Trip No.204 Entry No.7 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Lande de Rousse submitted by TheCaptain on 2nd Jun 2007. Deep into the forest is what looked to me to be a row of fallen menhirs, with one large rock still protruding from the ground.
It wouldn't surprise me if there was another row here, like some of those at the nearby Pierres Droites, or perhaps something like La Pièce Couverte.
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Log Text: Beside the track to the Loge Morinais is marked a menhir on the local maps. I had a good look around, and deep into the forest is what looked to me to be a row of fallen menhirs, with one large rock still protruding from the ground. It wouldnt surprise me if there was another row here, like those at the nearby Pierres Droites, or La Pièce Couverte.
La Loge Morinais
Trip No.204 Entry No.6 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
La Loge Morinais submitted by TheCaptain on 3rd Jun 2007. La Loge Morinais, near Monténeuf.
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Log Text: This is the remains of an allée couverte made of the local purple schist, and can be found in the forest to the north east of the Monteneuf visitors centre, about a kilometre away along a signposted trail. It is about 13 metres long and has an orientation of due east to west. There is an entrance lobby at the east end, and an antichamber at the west, but no capstones remain in place.
It can be easily found from several places with signposted forest walks. The day I was here, there was a nearby target set up for the prehistoric shooting championships.
La Roche Blanche
Trip No.204 Entry No.4 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Round Cairn
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
La Roche Blanche submitted by TheCaptain on 2nd Jun 2007. This is a nice shining white quartz block within a circle of local schist stones.
It is thought to probably mark the grave of an individual, rather than being a collective grave.
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Log Text: This is a nice shining white quartz block within a sort of circle of local schist stones. It is thought to probably mark the grave of an individual, rather than being a collective grave. It can be found about a kilometres walk from the Monteneuf visitors centre, through the forests along a marked trail.
Les Bordouès
Trip No.204 Entry No.3 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Les Bordouès submitted by TheCaptain on 2nd Jun 2007. This is the remains of a small allée couverte, 8 metres long and 1.5 metres wide.
There is a small entry porchway, separated from the main chamber by a large slab, at the southeast end.
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Log Text: This is the remains of a small allée couverte, 8 metres long and 1.5 metres wide, with only one capstone still in place. There is a small entry porchway, separated from the main chamber by a large slab, at the southeast end. Excavations in 1976 found amongst other things five polished axes. Much of its oval mound still remains. It is to be found about a kilometres marked walk through the forest from the Monteneuf visitor centre.
Centre Les Landes
Trip No.204 Entry No.2 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5
Centre Les Landes submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Jun 2007. The Monteneuf visitor centre, at the Pierres Droites, has many activities days.
This is a competitor in the prehistoric spear thrower (Propulseur, or Atlatl)competition.
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Log Text: A visitor centre has been set up amongst the Pierres Droites near to the village of Monténeuf, which has interactive displays which show erection of menhirs, building of neolithic homes, crop growing, archaeological excavations etc etc. Around the centre have been found several hundred megaliths, with most of the stones was only discovered in the last 20 years after a forest fire.
When I visited in July 2005, they were holding a round of the world "prehistoric shooting" championships, which included both bow and propulseur categories. On the hot sunny Sunday afternoon of this weekend event, the whole place was very busy, with all sorts of demonstrations in full swing. There was basket weaving, corn grinding, pottery making, stone polishing, mud wall making, flint knapping, fire making, cookery, archery, spear throwing and many other things, all of which the public was invited to have a go at, especially the children. What an excellent place this is.
The Atlatl (propulseur) competition is very impressive. i wondered just how much better than a plain spear it is, and was well impressed with both the power and accuracy achieved by many of the competitors. There was one chap that not only nearly hit the bull every time, but launched his spear so hard it went halfway through the target. I got lots of pictures of this, including the organiser with whom I had conducted a little interview with yesterday. Well worth going back for.
Pierres Droites (Monteneuf)
Trip No.204 Entry No.1 Date Added: 22nd Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 9th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5
Pierres Droites (Monteneuf) submitted by thecaptain on 24th Aug 2005. A view of the wonderful Pierres Droites, in the forest near Monteneuf.
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Log Text: The true extent of these stones was only discovered in the last 20 years or so after a forest fire, yet this set of aligned menhirs is probably one of the most important in France. A visitor centre has been set up with interactive displays which show erection of menhirs, building of neolithic homes, crop growing, archaeological excavations etc etc.
Several hundred megaliths have been found here, of which many have now been re-erected in their original socket holes. I found it quite difficult to make out any patterns to what is here, perhaps there are several lines converging, or perhaps there are circles? Many of the stones are quite big, one being over 5 metres tall and 30 tonnes in weight, yet others are little side set slabs. Most are the local schist, yet some are blocks of white quartz, moved here from a good distance away.
This place is most intriguing, and somewhere I need to find out more about.
L'Eléphant
Trip No.200 Entry No.84 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Ambience 4 Access 3
L'Eléphant submitted by johnstone on 22nd Nov 2018. In front of the granite elephant on Sep.12, 2018
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Log Text: Celebrated rock formation thought to represent an elephant, in the Sidobre region to the east of Castres.
Le Billard
Trip No.200 Entry No.83 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Le Billard submitted by TheCaptain on 9th Apr 2016. celebrated rock formation thought to represent a billiard ball on the extremely flat billiard table.
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Log Text: Celebrated rock formation thought to represent a billiard ball on the extremely flat billiard table, in the Sidobre region to the east of Castres.
Les Trois Fromages
Trip No.200 Entry No.82 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Les Trois Fromages submitted by TheCaptain on 9th Apr 2016. celebrated rock formation to the east of Castres.
Note all of the sticks and stones thrown onto the top. I cannot remember the story surrounding this.
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Log Text: Celebrated rock formation thought to represent a pile of three cheeses, in the Sidobre region to the east of Castres. There are many sticks and stones thrown onto the top of the rocks, but I cannot at present remember the folklore behind it.
Roc de l'Oie
Trip No.200 Entry No.81 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Roc de l'Oie submitted by TheCaptain on 9th Apr 2016. celebrated rock shaped like a goose, to the east of Castres.
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Log Text: Celebrated rock shaped like a goose, in the Sidobre region to the east of Castres.
Peyro Clabado
Trip No.200 Entry No.80 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Peyro Clabado submitted by TheCaptain on 9th Apr 2016. Le Peyro Clabado, an extremely large (780 tonnes) and celebrated balanced rock to the east of Castres.
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Log Text: Extremely large (780 tonnes) and celebrated balanced rock, in an area abounding with many odd rock shapes to the east of Castres. Some of these have been revered since history began.
Dolmen du Plo de Laganthe
Trip No.200 Entry No.85 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 24th Sep 2000. My rating: Access 5
Dolmen du Plo de Laganthe submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Dolmen du Plo de Laganthe, near to the village of Labastide-Rouairoux, in the Parc Regional du Haut Languedoc, Tarn, southwest France.
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Log Text: Roadside dolmen visited on a drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Mazamet, Toulouse.
Dolmen de la Jagartière
Trip No.200 Entry No.65 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
Dolmen de la Jagartière submitted by thecaptain on 20th Mar 2006. The noticeboard beside the La Jagartière dolmen.
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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 with a tremendous view