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Peyro-Hitto
Date Added: 26th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Couldn't find on 9th Sep 2005
Log Text: Drive north up the Garonne to St Gaudens. Its still not too late so I head on, and decide to head for St Girons. I miss a turn and end up in St Martory, I think there's a stone here. Having spent ages trying to park, I wasn't thinking straight because it was getting late and I had a fairly long way to travel.
No mention of it on the village maps, and I didn’t read my notes first, and thought it to be near the bridge, but found nothing. I didn’t think of looking at the obvious place by church, where it supposedly is.
It is a nice old bridge though.
Sarrat de Cousseillot Cromlechs
Trip No.205 Entry No.66 Date Added: 26th Oct 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 9th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 3
Sarrat de Cousseillot Cromlechs submitted by ocdolmen on 5th Aug 2009. Site in Midi: Haute-Garonne (31) France: Larboust site near Benqué village.
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Log Text: The first cromlechs I arrive at are about 200 metres from the track, and signposted down a little footpath past some sheep pens at 1345 metres altitude. I saw 4 cairn circles up here, plus perhaps one large open circle. At first I thought I had seen a big open circle, but I am not completely sure. If it is one, it is made of natural rocks pushed into position, with a diameter of about 40 metres, and the stones 8 to 10 metres apart. I will look at this more later.
Just beyond the first fence is a group of 4 cromlechs on the ridgetop. The uppermost is diameter 6 metres and a nicely formed circle using a couple of large natural rocks. There are 19 tightly packed stones around the circumference, and the ground level is substantially higher within. The next nearest cromlech is a small circle 2.5 metres in diameter, with 12 stones around the circumference, and again the ground level is higher within than outside. This is right adjacent to the third cromlech, again 6 metres in diameter and there are 17 visible stones surrounding slightly higher ground within. In the centre of this ring are a few stones which probably once made up a burial cist. One or two of the stones in this circle are quite large, up to 1 metre high.
The fourth cromlech, a bit further down the hillside, is a bit ruinous. 5 metres in diameter, the upper half is well defined, but the lower half is just big natural rocks and a few packing stones. There are 18 stones still to be seen making up this circle, and again a possible burial cist in the middle.
Peyre-Crabère
Trip No.205 Entry No.53 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5
Peyre-Crabère submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Jan 2006. Right beside the D.940 road as it enters the northern boundary of the town of Lourdes from Pau direction, can be found this large leaning menhir.
It sits right at the corner of a little housing road, Rue Peyre-Crabère, and has a bus shelter and garden hedge for company on its other two sides.
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Log Text: Right beside the D.940 road as it enters the northern boundary of the town of Lourdes from Pau direction, can be found this large leaning menhir. It sits right at the corner of a little housing road, Rue Peyre-Crabère, and has a bus shelter and garden hedge for company on its other two sides. The stone is about 3 metres tall, and leans almost 30° from vertical. While I was stopped here, it was thundering, pouring with rain, and very busy with traffic.
La Croix-La Botte
Trip No.205 Entry No.49 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Croix-La Botte submitted by thecaptain on 27th Jan 2006. To the west of the village of La Barthe-sur-Neste, and southeast of Capvern, along the hilltop beside the D.938 road, is a row of tumulus mounds.
The northwestern end tumulus is very well formed, 12 metres in diameter, 2 metres high and with a large cross on top.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of La Barthe-sur-Neste, and southeast of Capvern, along the hilltop beside the D.938 road, is a row of tumulus mounds. Most are now obvious only because of the ferns and stuff left growing on them, but the northwestern end tumulus is very well formed, 12 metres in diameter, 2 metres high and with a large cross on top. The row extends for about 1 kilometre, and there were probably once many more mounds to be found here, now mostly ploughed out or destroyed by the road.
Aneran stone
Trip No.205 Entry No.63 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Aneran stone submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Jan 2006. The prehistoric stone here is the dark grey cylindrical block, stood beside the buttress at the rear corner of the church.
It's about 1.2 metres tall, and approximately circular in section with about 30 cm diameter. It reminds me a bit of some of the iron age steles in Brittany.
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Log Text: Deep into the Louron valley, on the western side of the Col de Peyresourde in the high Pyrenees, is the tiny village of Aneran. In the tiny churchyard beside this small ancient church in this little Pyrenean village are several odds and ends of old stone, some carved into shapes and and with patterns on them.
I assume the prehistoric stone here is the dark grey cylindrical block, stood beside the wall at the corner of the church. Its about 1.2 metres tall, and approximately circular in section with about 30 cm diameter. It reminds me a bit of some of the iron age steles in Brittany. The church also has some fascinating carved stones built into its walls. An interesting little place.
Peyre Hicade de Payolle
Trip No.205 Entry No.61 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Peyre Hicade de Payolle submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Jan 2006. After a very long time of looking, to start with I wasnt totally sure that I found the real stone, but the one I found at least looks like a proper menhir, and not a natural fallen rock.
It is still over 2 metres high although the top has broken off and lies at its foot.
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Log Text: I spent hours looking for this, largely because walking around here in such a beautiful part of the world and the wonderful scenery is such a great pleasure. The stone is somewhere to the south of the Lac de Payolle, and its holiday complex. There is even a 2 hour circular walk signposted and named Peyre Hicade. But to properly find the stone takes a lot of doing, and it is not actually passed by the named walking trail !
To start with I wasn't totally sure that I found the real stone, but the one I found at least looks like a proper menhir, and not a natural fallen rock. It is just over 2 metres high although the top has broken off and lies at its foot, and by a trackway above the road at the furthest point from the lake on the Peyre Hicade walk, although the signposts for the path do not lead or point to the stone.
If following the road south from the lake, just after the road crosses a bridge, and then does an almost hairpin turn to the right, park and follow a trackway up the hill to the left, on the uphill side of the stream. If this is not the menhir, I do not know what is - it looks like an other picture I have seen.
Fontaine de Trois Seigneurs tumulus
Trip No.205 Entry No.50 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Fontaine de Trois Seigneurs tumulus submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Jan 2006. Remains of a large round mound, probably with a chambered tomb inside, which can be seen near to the more well known Pouey-Majou, a few kilometres to the southwest of Tarbes in southwestern France.
There are many of these large mounds around on the hills here, but many more have been destroyed in the last century. This one has recently been attacked with earthmoving equipment on its far side, some of which can be seen by the steep side on the right, and the loose earth to the side.
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Log Text: When at the Fontaine de Trois Seigneurs, instead of turning left towards the Pouey-Majou dolmen continue southwest for a few hundred yards along the farmtrack, and there is a large mound at the top of the hill. It can be clearly seen against the skyline while walking towards it from quite some distance off, all covered in bracken and scrub. Unfortunately, it has all been fenced off, so I couldnt get a closer look. It looks to be about 20 metres in diameter, by 3 metres high. The northwest side looks to have been recently cut away with earth moving equipment. In fact, it is in such a badly cared for state, that at first I assumed that it might be just a modern mound of earth, for some reason piled there by the farmer. But it is indeed an ancient burial mound, which is in desperate need of some proper care. It wouldn't be the only one of these large burial mounds round here to be destroyed in recent times, as one was ploughed out less than 10 years ago.
Poueyferré Tumulus
Trip No.205 Entry No.52 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Poueyferré Tumulus submitted by thecaptain on 24th Jan 2006. A few kilometres to the northwest of Lourdes near to Poueyferré, this large "Christianised" tumulus can be found.
It is about 30 metres in diameter, and 5 metres high with quite steep sides, and has a chapel and relatively modern tomb built onto the top of it.
The woodland is fenced off, so complete access to the tumulus is not possible, and as the undergrowth is quite thick, getting decent pictures is not easy.
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Log Text: A few kilometres to the northwest of Lourdes, on the eastern side of the D.940 road near to Poueyferré, take the minor road down into the dip to the hamlet of Maillous, where this large tumulus can be found. To get to the tumulus, which can be seen from the road, walk down a little trackway which leads to the south beside a couple of houses. The trackway runs out at a little woodland, and the tumulus is contained within this wood.
It is about 30 metres in diameter, and 5 metres high with quite steep sides, and has a relatively modern tomb built onto the top of it. The woodland is fenced off, so complete access to the tumulus is not possible, and as the undergrowth is quite thick, getting decent pictures is not easy.
Just to the north of the large mound, about 40 metres away, is the remains of what looks to have been another tumulus, now mostly ploughed out and lost into the fields, except for a small bit still covered with trees. It has become horribly wet again here, with thunderstorms rumbling all around.
Dolmen du Peyre-Dusets
Trip No.205 Entry No.54 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen du Peyre-Dusets submitted by thecaptain on 27th Jan 2006. To the northwest of the village of Poueyferré, take the road up into the hills towards the Dechetterie and park as near as possible to the Chemin Henry IV trackway which runs along the top of the ridge here. Take this ancient trackway northwards, and walk for about a kilometer, where the Peyre-Dusets dolmen can be found.
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Log Text: To the northwest of the village of Poueyferré, take the road up into the hills towards the Dechetterie and park as near as possible to the Chemin Henry IV trackway which runs along the top of the ridge here. Take this ancient trackway northwards, and walk for about a kilometer, where the Peyre-Dusets dolmen can be found. It is signposted.
The dolmen is right beside the track and has a 2 metres by 1 metre chamber covered by a partially fallen capstone which is fairly round and about 2.5 metres in diameter. The dolmen faces towards the southeast and probably has fantastic views towards the mountains, but unfortunately no view at all today while I am here. There is a semblance of the remains of a mound at the back and to the west of the dolmen.
There are lots of deer in and out of the maize in the fields around here, and chestnuts falling onto me from the trees surrounding the lane, which is nice.
Armenteule Menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.64 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 8th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Armenteule menhir submitted by thecaptain on 7th Feb 2006. Deep in the Louron valley, on the western side of the Col de Peyresourde in the high Pyrenees, is the tiny village of Armenteule.
In this sleepy little Pyrenean village there is an old church. Inside the churchyard, just beside the back of the church, is a standing stone....
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Log Text: Deep in the Louron valley, on the western side of the Col de Peyresourde in the high Pyrenees, is the tiny village of Armenteule. In this sleepy little Pyrenean village there is an old church. Inside the churchyard, just beside the back of the church, is a standing stone. Whether the church was built beside the menhir, or the stone was brought here later I do not know.
The stone is a piece of slatey schist, stands some 1.3 metres tall, and is approximately 40 cm wide by 20 cm thick at the base, tapering slightly to the top. The whole place has a nice feel about it, as if its as old as the hills, and that man has been living and farming here for eternity. It is slightly strange that this stone (and that at nearby Aneran) is made of a dark grey / black slatey stone, when the majority of stone round here is pale granite.
Estaque d'Avezac cinq tumuli
Trip No.205 Entry No.48 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Estaque d'Avezac cinq tumuli submitted by TheCaptain on 21st Jul 2010. To the west of the village of La Barthe-sur-Neste, along the hilltop is a row of tumulus mounds. Most are now obvious only because of the ferns and stuff left growing on them.
The row extends for about 1 kilometre, and there were probably once many more mounds to be found here, now mostly ploughed out or destroyed by the road.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of La Barthe-sur-Neste, and southeast of Capvern, along the hilltop beside the D.938 road, is a row of tumulus mounds. Most are now obvious only because of the ferns and stuff left growing on them, but the northwestern end tumulus is very well formed, 12 metres in diameter, 2 metres high and with a large cross on top. The row extends for about 1 kilometre, and there were probably once many more mounds to be found here, now mostly ploughed out or destroyed by the road.
Grotte de Gargas
Trip No.205 Entry No.46 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Grotte de Gargas submitted by theCaptain on 26th Nov 2010.
Some of the finds to be found in the little museum
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Log Text: This is the cave which is famous for all the hand prints, but there is in fact much more than these to be seen. The cave is easily found round some windy lanes, being well signposted, and it is open every day, €6 entry per adult to visit, which takes about an hour. The visit is on two levels, which were two separate caves in prehistoric times, the joining together of which was done in the 19th century. The two caves are both very different, being used at different times in the past.
The upper level is a large, vertically oriented, well calcite decorated cave, within which are some paintings of animals in either red oxide or black manganese. There are bison, bouquetin and deer. The lower level has some panels with different animals engraved into the walls, which demonstrates the different time of usage, there are mammouth, auryx and reindeer. And then of course there are the hand prints, made by blowing the red or black pigment over the hand. Most do not have complete sets of fingers, and most are left hands, however all have a complete thumb. Why missing fingers ? Surely the hunters of the time would not have cut them off, as it would have been far too much of a handicap. Could it have been disease ? If so, then why no missing thumbs ? The latest thoughts as to this mystery is that the fingers may well have been simply bent back before making the silhouettes. In which case, is it a sign language ? What does it all mean ? Near to the end of the visit to the cave, is the "Great Wall of Hands". Not all of the hands are of adults, and there are hands from children too, some of which must have been quite young. The prints on this wall have been dated to 27,000 years ago. It is incredible to look at these hands of man from all that time ago. Near to the current exit to the cave, there are current excavations going on, the first since 1911, and they are hoping that with modern techniques, that more can be learned about the men that lived here.
Pouey-Mayou
Trip No.205 Entry No.51 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Pouey-Mayou submitted by TheCaptain on 10th Dec 2010. Having spent a fair while searching in the thick undergrowth, I found a way leading through to something stonelike.
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Log Text: To the southwest of the town of Tarbes, and the village of Osson, take the unmarked road to the south. Partway along this road is a parking area, picnic site and a map of footpath circuits in the area. However, continue further until the road runs out and turns into a dirt track. From here, the Pouey-Majou dolmen should now be signposted on yellow footpath signs, but basically turn left, then left again and walk up to the top of the hill, about a kilometre from where I was able to park.
The dolmen is to be found in a large mound, one of many large mounds along this hilltop ridge, but the only one easily and relatively readily accessible without doing a whole days walk to Bartres. The top of the mound has been dug into to reveal a large stone lined chamber about 7 metres long by 3 metres wide, with a single capstone still in place at the eastern end.
It is all very overgrown and difficult to see clearly, let alone get good photos of. It doesn't help that its been raining heavily for 24 hours, and everything is soaking wet. The mound is probably 40 metres in diameter, and up to 4 or 5 metres high. The level of the top of the remaining capstone is at least 2 metres below the level of the mound here.
Estaque tumulus
Trip No.205 Entry No.47 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 5th Sep 2005
Log Text: To the west of the village of La Barthe-sur-Neste, and northeast of the row of tumuli along the ridgetop road, can be found the remains of the Estaque tumulus. This is a very large mound, now contained beyond the confines of a rubbish facility, and not easy to access, although it can just about be seen from the road.
Peyrasse menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.55 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Sep 2005
Peyrasse menhir submitted by Nick- on 3rd Jan 2008. Menhir de Peyrasse, 2nd Jan 2007.
Same view looking Westwards, camera poked through the fence. There was a sleeping guard dog on the other side......
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Log Text: I had a bit of a look for this, but it is not on the map in detail, and I found nothing obvious in the real world.
Menhir de Soulor
Trip No.205 Entry No.60 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Couldn't find on 7th Sep 2005
Log Text: There is a stone at the top of the Col de Soulor, now used as a signpost and footpath marker, but I doubt it is the menhir. Nothing else obvious was seen while I was up here, but the Col was in the clouds and the visibility was severely lacking.
At a later point in time, I found out that apparently the stone is down the road to the left (North) of the Col.
Menhir de Bordères-Louron
Trip No.205 Entry No.62 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Hautes-Pyrénées (65))
Visited: Couldn't find on 8th Sep 2005
Log Text: I asked at Tourist Office, but they, as usual, knew nothing, and said I must have the wrong village !
Dolmen dit de Pajot
Trip No.203 Entry No.193 Date Added: 20th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 30th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen dit de Pajot submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jul 2005. Mas Pachot dolmen, near Limogne-en-Quercy.
Now used as a store for ancient farming equipment.
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Log Text: This dolmen can be easily found in a field beside the D24 road south of the village of Limogne-en-Quercy. Of typical size for round here, the chamber is 3.5 metres in length, and 1.5 metres wide, and is covered by a capstone which is larger in all dimensions. The northeast side has collapsed slightly, giving a good lean.
The dolmen is used for storing of some ancient farming equipment (ploughs and suchlike) which look to have been in there for many decades.
Joncas Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.195 Date Added: 20th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 31st May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Joncas dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jul 2005. Joncas dolmen, near to Limogne-en-Quercy, sitting well within its tree covered mound still.
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Log Text: A kilometre walk west of the village of Limogne-en-Quercy along the GR.65 long distance footpath and signposted, you come to this dolmen. Still sitting largely in its mound, the chamber is 3.5 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, facing to the east at 108°. The capstone is unfortunately broken, and only part remains covering the chamber.
When I was here, the surrounding area is covered in flowers of all shapes and colours, on a lovely warm sunny morning.
Garivals Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.141 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Garivals dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Garivals dolmen, near the village of Assier in Lot is much unloved.
It has not only had a wall built through it, but also a trackway which cuts through, along where this photo is taken from.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of Assier, about 1.5 kilometres along the D.92 road, there is a trackway leaving at an angle to the north, nearby what seems to be a road repair depot. A few hundred metres along this trackway can be found the Dolmen de Garivals, much unloved, fenced in and with a wall built through it. The chamber is about 3 m by 1.5 m, and a single capstone now covers only half of it. Much of its mound remains, and there is a strange sort of triangle stone on top.