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Pierre-Pointe
Trip No.204 Entry No.217 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Côte-d'Or (21))
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Pierre-Pointe submitted by thecaptain on 13th Oct 2006. This menhir, about 4 metres tall, can be seen around the back of an out of the way farmyard, just to the north of the N.6 road between Aunay and Saulieu.
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Log Text: This menhir, about 4 metres tall, can be seen around the back of an out of the way farmyard, just to the north of the N.6 road between Aunay and Saulieu. It is not easy to get to, but can be clearly seen from the lane leading to the farm, at a distance of about 50 metres. It is up on top of a hill with commanding views over the valley and plains below.
Pierre Pelot
Trip No.204 Entry No.218 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Côte-d'Or (21))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Aug 2005
Pierre Pelot submitted by AlexHunger on 11th Jul 2010. Natural stone near the top of hill in Bourgogne hiking area which I have classed as a Menhir. A local website claims it was a Judgement Stone under the celts or Gauls. I assume, the accused sat on the stone in front of it.
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Log Text: The village of Roche-en-Brenil is supposed to have two menhirs, but I could find no sign of either of them. It's a shame that these places do not have village maps with things marked, or any signposts like they do elsewhere. The area is covered with forests, and looks to be lots of natural granite outcrops.
Roche d'Arthur
Trip No.204 Entry No.219 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Côte-d'Or (21))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Aug 2005
Roche D'arthur submitted by AlexHunger on 11th Jul 2010. Unusual Stone in Bourgogne. I have classed it as a Menhir, but it is probably a natural stone that has been arranged near the top of a hill in what is now a hiking area. A local web site believes it was and probably is still being used in fertility rites. A woman sliding down the stone was assured of hightened fertility.
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Log Text: The village of Roche-en-Brenil is supposed to have two menhirs, but I could find no sign of either of them. It's a shame that these places do not have village maps with things marked, or any signposts like they do elsewhere. The area is covered with forests, and looks to be lots of natural granite outcrops.
Grottes d'Arcy-sur-Cure
Trip No.204 Entry No.220 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 4th Aug 2005
Grottes d'Arcy-sur-Cure submitted by aolson on 24th Jul 2020. The entrance to the Great Cave, the only one open to the public.
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Log Text: I drove past these caves, without realising what significance they have. If I had realised, I would have visited.
Pierre-Fritte (Villeneuve-sur-Yonne)
Trip No.204 Entry No.221 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Aug 2005
Log Text: I could find nowhere to stop and look for this menhir, which is somewhere between the busy N.6 road and the river Yonne.
La Borne-Percée
Trip No.204 Entry No.222 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 4th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5
La Borne-Percée submitted by thecaptain on 29th Nov 2006. In the Houssaye forests, high above the Yonne river southeast of Sens, and near to the village of Les Auberts can be found this menhir at a junction of forest tracks.
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Log Text: In the Houssaye forests, high above the Yonne river southeast of Sens, and near to the village of Les Auberts can be found this menhir at a junction of forest tracks. Its very small, only 1.3 metres tall, but mounted on a plinth and easy to find. Near to the top is a hole which has been cut through it, to which legends and stories are aplenty.
La Pierre-Aux-Sorcières
Trip No.204 Entry No.223 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Aug 2005
La Pierre-Aux-Sorcières submitted by TheCaptain on 19th Mar 2020. La Pierre-Aux-Sorcières, Vaumort
photo from patrimoine-de-france.com
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Log Text: La Pierre-Aux-Sorcières, or La Pierre-Enlevée is to be found in the community of Vaumort. I'd have liked to have found the Witch's stone, but I don’t have a map with it marked on, and there are no signs or notices in the village to help. Shame.
Dolmen de la Bourde à la Gousse
Trip No.204 Entry No.224 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Aug 2005
Log Text: There is a dolmen marked on my ign map near to the village of La Bourde a la Gousse, so I went to have a look. I walked a fair distance down a forest track, but I could find nothing. The forest was either very dense and impenetrable, or fenced off. There was at one point lots of rocks on the forest floor, in about the right position, but these were in a fenced off enclosure.
Grand dolmen de Trainel
Trip No.204 Entry No.225 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Grand dolmen de Trainel submitted by theCaptain on 27th Apr 2012. The Grand Dolmen is a bit of a mess of large stones with the remains of a bit of a mound around them, built into the hillside in the forest.
There is one obvious capstone sitting on top of some support stones, with a chamber underneath.
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Log Text: There are two dolmens here in the Traînel forest, signposted a couple of kilometres to the west of Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes. Where the road bends, park in the forest car park and walk for a kilometre to the north along the forest track, and the dolmens are signposted from here.
The Grand Dolmen is a bit of a mess of large stones with the remains of a bit of a mound around them, built into the hillside in the forest. There is one obvious capstone of dimensions 2.5 m by 1.5 m sitting on top of some support stones, with a 2 metres long by by 1 metre wide chamber underneath. Besides it is the remains of what was another small chamber and it is possible that there were once more. It's all a bit of a muddle though, not helped by the badgers that have made it their home.
Petit dolmen de Trainel
Trip No.204 Entry No.226 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Petit dolmen de Trainel submitted by theCaptain on 4th Aug 2011. Without the signpost right beside it, I very much doubt that I would have found this, although it is right beside the path. There are hundreds of better more dolmenic looking rocks in this forest ! I can't believe I spent the best part of three days and 700 km of driving to get here !
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Log Text: About 15 metres to the north of the Grand Dolmen along the slope of the hill, and perhaps in what was once the same mound can be found the Petit Dolmen. It doesn’t look much more than a medium sized rock sat on the hillside, but closer inspection shows there to be a 1 metre by 0.5 metre slab sided cist underneath the 1.7 m by 1 m capstone.
Without the signpost right beside it, I very much doubt that I would have found this, although it is right beside the path. There are hundreds of better more dolmenic looking rocks in this forest ! I cant believe I spent the best part of three days and 700 km of driving to get here ! Lets hope for better to come, but I wont hold my breath. Dammit, now its raining. Lots of deer about though, and just sitting writing this I can sense them watching me from behind the trees.
Lancy Dolmen
Trip No.204 Entry No.227 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Lancy Dolmen submitted by TheCaptain on 5th Aug 2013. The dolmen is in a little clearing, and easy to find. The first thing you see is the obvious dolmen with capstone on top of two side supports. Closer inspection shows there to be a backstone, and a fallen stone at the large front opening.
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Log Text: Now this is more like it. In the Foret-de-Lancy, a couple of kilometres to the southeast of Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes can be found this nice looking little dolmen. It is signposted from the road through the forest about 700 metres south of the parking place at the track to the Traînel dolmens, and is a 700 metre walk from the road along a forest track.
The dolmen is in a little clearing, 10 metres from the track, and easy to find. The forst thing you see is the obvious dolmen with a 3 m by 2 m capstone sat on top of two side supports, about 1.2 metres off the ground. Closer inspection shows there to be a backstone, and a fallen stone at the large front opening. Just to the southeast is another large stone standing upright, and there are plenty of other large stones laying about nearby. There would appear to be the remains of a round mound within which the dolmen was once covered.
I wonder whether there was a second chamber at some point, or perhaps a circle of stones around the mound. This is a very pleasant spot. Strangely, there are many hand prints painted on some of the stones.
Lancy Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.228 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Lancy Polissoir submitted by thecaptain on 20th Jun 2008. As polissoir stones that I have seen go, this is not very impressive. Its a nice stone in the forest, about 2.5m by 2.5 m laying on the ground, with a couple of polishing grooves and a basin which can be determined. The basin is actually very nicely polished.
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Log Text: About 350 metres to the north of the D.110 road through Lancy Forest can be found this polissoir stone. Park at the Pavillon-de-Lancy picnic site, and the stone can be found down the track along the edge of the forest from there. Luckily it is signposted, as without them I would never have found it.
As polissoir stones that I have seen go, this is not very impressive. Its a nice stone in the forest, about 2.5m by 2.5 m laying on the ground, with a couple of polishing grooves and a basin which can be determined. The basin is actually very nicely polished. This seems a slightly strange place for a polissoir stone, as I can see no natural source for any water nearby, although the stone itself has a large hollow which could have been used as a reservoir. And it is raining !
Pierre à l'Eau
Trip No.204 Entry No.229 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Pierre à l'Eau submitted by theCaptain on 5th Aug 2011. A lovely polissoir stone deep in Lancy Forest, with its own source of water in the form of a couple of deep basins, and it is not far from a little stream.
The stone has five well worn grooves and a couple of flat basins for polishing.
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Log Text: This is much more like it, a lovely polissoir stone, with its own source of water in the form of a couple of deep basins which I assume are natural, and it is not far from a little stream. The stone is sort of triangular, about 2 m by 1.5 m, and has five well worn grooves and a couple of flat basins for polishing. It is found from the D.110 road through Lancy Forest, south of the Pavillon-de-Lancy. There is a parking place and signposted walk of 650 metres from there to the east.
Polissoir avec Cuvette
Trip No.204 Entry No.230 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Polissoir avec Cuvette submitted by TheCaptain on 6th Aug 2011. About 50 metres from the Pierre à l'Eau can be found a second polissoir stone.
This one has a large water filled basin, and as far as I can make out, only two large flattish basin like polishing areas.
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Log Text: About 50 metres from the Pierre à l'Eau, and thankfully signposted through the tricky forest, can be found a second polissoir stone. This one has a large water filled basin, and as far as I can make out, only two two large flattish basin like polishing areas. I guess this stone was used for the flat faces, while stone 1 was used for the edges.
Polissoir avec Plage
Trip No.204 Entry No.231 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2011. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Polissoir avec Plage submitted by TheCaptain on 7th Aug 2011. This one is a smaller stone, about 2 metres by 0.5 metres, and a nice smoothed crescent shape, hence the name.
As well as the entire polishing "beach", there are at least three bowls for keeping water or polishing.
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Log Text: A further 40 metres downstream from the second polissoir stone, is found a third. This one is a smaller stone, about 2 metres by 0.5 metres, and a nice smoothed crescent shape, hence the name. As well as the entire polishing "beach", there are at least three bowls for polishing, some of which are quite deep, and about 20 cm in diameter. This is quite some industrial centre, isn't it!
As I write this I am being watched by at least two deer, no more than 40 metres away from me. Oh well, better get back.
Polissoir des Roches
Trip No.204 Entry No.232 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: The Polissoir des Roches, or Courgenay polissoir should be found in the forest to the south of the village of Courgenay, up on the hills. There are no signposts to be seen to it, so I am pretty sure that I will not be able to find it on my own.
Dolmen de Bercenay
Trip No.204 Entry No.233 Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Dolmen de Bercenay submitted by Flickr on 23rd Jan 2016. Dolmen de la Pierre Couverte Site in Bourgogne:Yonne (89) France
Constitué de deux dalles disposées parallèlement et orientées est-ouest. Elles sont reliées entre elles par une troisième disposée à l'ouest. Ce qui forme une chambre rectangulaire ouverte à l'est. La chambre est recouverte d'une dalle de 3 m de longueur pour 2 m de large. Image copyright: Ombre&Lumiere, hosted on Flickr and displayed under the terms of their API.
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Log Text: Just off the edge of my map, the Pierre au Laurin, or Pierre Couverte, has no obvious signposts to it, and I could see no obvious signs of any dolmen in the locality, so I didn’t really look.
Which is a shame really, as I see later there are three good dolmens to be found here, much better than anything I did find!
La Pierre Pointue (Montacher)
Trip No.204 Entry No.234 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
La Pierre Pointue (Montacher) submitted by thecaptain on 15th Feb 2007. La Pierre Pointue, Montacher-Villegardin.
It is about 2.3 metres tall, and very pointed as its name would suggest.
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Log Text: A few kilometres to the south of the village of Montacher-Villegardin via windy unmarked roads, and about a kilometre walk to the west of the little road which runs south from the village, along farm tracks and you can find this menhir in a field. It is about 2.3 metres tall, and very pointed as its name would suggest. Around the stone are lots more rocks, whether broken from it or field clearance I cannot say.
Menhir de Coinche
Trip No.204 Entry No.235 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Menhir de Coinche submitted by thecaptain on 12th Feb 2007. Coinche menhir is a lovely multicoloured puddingstone menhir, perhaps 1.5 metres high and at least as wide, and about 0.5 m thick.
Near to the top there is a hole which goes right through the stone. It is not known whether this is a much more recent modification to the stone or original.
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Log Text: This menhir is in the middle of a cropped field just behind the farmhouse, down a track and then turn left near the wood. It is not normally possible to get right to it, but I was proudly shown the stone by the wife of the farmer. The field is full of sunflowers this year, and the stone was not visible from the road, and proved difficult to find, even for the farmers wife and daughter.
It stands in a little area left uncropped for its protection. It is a lovely multicoloured puddingstone menhir, perhaps 1.5 metres high and at least as wide, and about 0.5 m thick. Near to the top there is a hole which goes right through the stone. It is not known whether this is a much more recent modification to the stone or original. Beside the stone there are two smaller stones, one each side. I was told that it is thought that these two stones were used to place lamps on when ceremonies were carried out here.
Coinche polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.236 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 12th Feb 2007. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3
Coinche polissoir submitted by thecaptain on 12th Feb 2007. Coinche polissoir stones can be seen here in the ploughed field.
The Coinche menhir stands in the field of sunflowers beyond the polissoir stones, towards the top end of the wood.
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Log Text: About 80 metres from the menhir are several large rocks laying flat in the next field. One of these stones has three lovely polishing grooves in the top at one side, each about 50 cm long, and a big cuvette basin for polishing the flat sides. As for the menhir, these stones are in a cropped field, and not normally possible to find, but I was again taken to them. There were more polishing grooves elsewhere on the rocks, but these have been broken off when the rocks were partly broken several hundred years ago to build houses. Somebody has a house with polishing grooves incorporated in their walls !
It is now all very dry land round here, but in the past this was an area of swamp and marsh, which would have provided the water necessary for the polishing task. The ancient people didn't live here, but had a village a bit further down the valley.
Also found near here in the past was a portable polishing stone, which is now in the safe keeping of a museum somewhere.
These two stones would have been impossible for me to find and see had it not been for the kindness and help of the farmers wife. And although she spoke quick French, I gained a lot of information from her that I would otherwise never have been able to find out. She is obviously very proud to have these stones on her land, and interested in them. Many thanks to her.