Pierre Couverte de Bué

Trip No.205  Entry No.269  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: A couple of kilometres to the southeast of the village of Bagneux near to the hamlet of Bué, can be found this dolmen in a lovely situation in the forest. The dolmen is well signposted from all around, and from a parking place at Bué it is about 400 metres walk. The large capstone, 6m by 4m sits on top of a chamber 5m by 3m. It has a backstone and six sidestones in various positions of uprightness. The capstone is between 1 and 1.5 metres above the ground.

It has got its own bench nearby on which to sit and contemplate, with falling acorns a hazard, and a woodpecker pecking away amongst other things. This really is a lovely spot, and so gets a 5 for ambience.

I will make this my last megalithic site on my 6 months trip round France, it really is a nice place to finish on, and an unexpected dolmen at that.

It is now 2:30pm, and I really ought to be getting on driving back towards my sister's. Romorantin, Blois (roadworks), Vendome (Roadworks, big crane, school traffic), St-Calais (terrible traffic), Le Mans (rain, traffic jams), Alencon (slow traffic), Argentan, Flers (dug up, closed roads, diversions within diversions). It takes forever to find Vire, now in the complete dark, St-Lo (more diversions) and finally back to Sara's at about 9:30pm. I was amazed I didn't get tired or dozy at all while driving. Parked with 117630 km on the clock, 545 for today. Sausages and eggs (yummy), large beer, then to bed after seeing a depressing news on the telly. I've not missed missing all the bad news from around the world while away in my campervan.

Pierre Levée de Boisy

Trip No.205  Entry No.268  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Couldn't find on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: The village of Bagneux has a signposted footpath of length 5.5 km which takes in three megalithic sites. One of these sites is this menhir. I didn't have time to do the full walk, and without a detailed map, and no obvious signs to the menhir, I didn't really know where to look. I have since found this menhir marked on a detailed map, and it would have perhaps been a fairly simple few hundred metres walk from the Bellevue farm.

Tréfoux deux menhirs

Trip No.205  Entry No.267  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Marked on my ign map to the southeast of Bagneux are menhirs. Driving along the little road that passes them is lots of what looks like natural stone outcropping, and perhaps the remains of a dolmen. However, near to a corner in the road are two standing rocks, which are clearly not naturally like that. One is about 1 metre tall, the other about 1.2 metres tall. Around them are many more rocks. It is not difficult to see what is perhaps an alignment of 5 or 6 rocks with others fallen. Or perhaps it is the remains of an allée couverte type structure. I am not sure exactly what is going on here, but it is a nice spot in the forest. A bit further along the road to the west is what seems to be the remains of another fallen menhir or two.

La Pierre Levée (Graçay)

Trip No.205  Entry No.266  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Cher (18))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: Just to the south of the D.68 road between Graçay and Nohant-en-Graçay, near to the hamlet of Les Villaines can be seen the remains of this dolmen, about 100 metres from the road in a field. When I was here, the field had been recently planted, so I did not venture any nearer to the dolmen. It was hard to make out any details, but one capstone can be seen to be still raised above the ground on its supports.

Liniez Tumulus elliptique

Trip No.205  Entry No.265  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: Just outside the village of Liniez, along the D.926 road towards Vatan, and to the left of the road about a kilometre beyond the dolmen is the remains of a large tumulus. I found it difficult to stop here, and there was lots of fenced off land and woodland, so I didn't get to see this directly.

Pierre Levée (Liniez)

Trip No.205  Entry No.264  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Just outside the village of Liniez, along the D.926 road towards Vatan, and to the right of the road can be seen the remains of this allée couverte. It was probably an Angevin type allée couverte, but there are no obvious remains of the porchway. The remains of the chamber are 10 metres long by 4 metres wide, and it was probably covered by four capstones, of which three remain in various positions, from still in place at the back end, sloping in the middle and flat on the ground at the front. Several side slabs remain, as does the backslab, and there is evidence of a possible internal partition, although it could be bits of broken capstone. The back cell of the chamber is still all nicely erect, making this a pleasant monument to visit. It is all orientated towards the east at 070°.

Les Chateliers

Trip No.205  Entry No.263  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: At the village of Moulins-sur-Céphons is a reconstruction of an ancient Gallic village. I did not visit.

La Pierre cromlech

Trip No.205  Entry No.262  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Couldn't find on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: While at the La Pierre dolmen, I could find no signs of any cromlech. Perhaps the form of the sideslabs of the dolmen was enough for this to once be thought of as a cromlech ?

La Pierre Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.261  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: It was a bit of a struggle to find this, due to several of the roads being closed for some reason. However, take the D.23 road southwest from Moulins-sur-Céphons towards St Martin-de-Lamps. About midway between the two is the hamlet of La Pierre, and there are signs to the dolmen. It is about 800 metres walk from the road, round the back of the houses.

What I found is probably the remains of an Angevin dolmen with a large 6 m by 3 m chamber, made with a single backstone, two sidestones each side with two capstones, the rear one in place, the forward one broken and fallen into the chamber. There are signs of an entry portal, now all a bit broken. Some of the stones are massive thick chunks, not nice slim slabs.

Pierre du Tombeau

Trip No.205  Entry No.260  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Right in the middle of the village of Davayat, near to the traffic lights, this menhir resides in amongst the houses, and is half hidden in a garden yard. It is 4.8 metres high, leaning nicely, and is one of the biggest menhirs in the Auvergne region.

The menhir is perhaps lucky to survive right here between the houses, and in many respects perhaps owes its survival to it being seen as an important and sacred monument throughout history by the inhabitants of the village. There was once another large menhir nearby, but traces of this can no longer be found, it falling victim to agricultural "progress".

Plateau de Mons

Trip No.205  Entry No.259  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Sep 2005

Log Text: On top of the plateau is a large collection of earthen barrows dating to the iron age which can be seen from the track.

Dolmen du Chausse

Trip No.205  Entry No.258  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Signposted as tumulus from the village of Mons, just to the east of junction 28 of the A.75 Autoroute near to St Flour. The trackway leads you back over the A.75 and then about another 300 metres. It is probably possible to drive to it, but I parked and walked.

The little dolmen is still mostly contained within its large cairn of stones, except that it has been dug into from the southern side. The cairn is about 16 metres in diameter and 2 metres high, made of loose small volcanic rocks. The dolmen has a capstone 3m by 2m sat on top of a chamber 2m by 1m, with two side slabs but no obvious backstone.

The chamber is full of rocks, and opens southwards with fine views, spoiled slightly by the A.75 motorway screaming past ! A nice place to visit, with lots of yellow mullens growing on and around. Apparently there are many legends attached to this tomb, but I am not sure what any of them are.

Bois-Grand Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.257  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just to the south of the village of Les Ternes, the new D.921 road goes up a fairly steep hill. On the right, halfway up the hill is a little layby and picnic table, with a sign to this dolmen, which can then be found less than 50 metres up the trackway from the layby. It is right beside the road, and part of its mound of stones has been cut away. The dolmen has a large and thick capstone, 3.5 metres by 2.5 metres, sitting on top of a little chamber, 2m by 1m, which has two side slabs and a back stone still nicely in place. The capstone looks much too large for the rest of the dolmen ! Around the dolmen are lots of loose basalt stones, obviously one a part of its cairn.

Bargueyrac Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.256  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: About half a kilometre further west along the D.990 road can be found this little menhir, right beside the road and with a little sign. Its only about 1.3 metres tall basalt, and in the past has obviously had something stuck on top, probably a cross, due to the hole which can be seen drilled into it.

La Table au Loup

Trip No.205  Entry No.255  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: West of the village of Sériers, along the new D.990 road towards Pierrefort, about 500 metres from the junction with the D.921 is a sign for the dolmen. It is then about an 800 metre walk along a signposted gravel trackway across marshy land before you reach the dolmen, or as I found, a fenced off plastic sheeting covered area! The dolmen was undergoing excavation, and apart from a large side slab sticking up out of the middle, and obvious remains of a mound, there was nothing I could see here.

Menhir de la Croix-Grosse

Trip No.205  Entry No.254  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This christianised menhir stands just on the western outskirts of the village of Sériers, and is signposted from there as Menhir Christianisée, and is along the road to Peyrelade (no doubt once home to its own megalith). There is a large basalt carved cross sat on top of a superb column of christalline basalt, octagonal and well over 2 metres high. With its cross, it stands a good 3.5 metres tall. This really is a lovely monument, the basalt column is perfectly upright, and always has been, its never been restored. Apparently the column must have been brought here from several kilometres away, so its obviously at a once very special place.

Pierre Levée dolmen 2 (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.253  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Unfortunately, this cannot be reached from its near neighbours, and instead it has to be walked to quite a distance (about 1 km) from a point where you start the walk to the Tombe du Capitaine. It's a pleasant walk along a well signposted track, and then across a hilltop field.

The dolmen is in very poor condition, basically one large side slab in a hollow in the centre of its tumulus. However, the tumulus is in fine condition, about 15 metres in diameter and up to 1.5 metres in height. Around the outside at certain places it seems to be encircled with a sort of stone slab walling. This is in a lovely spot, and was well worth the effort to get to. I wouldn't be surprised if there was once another dolmen in this mound.

Pierre Levée dolmen 1 (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.252  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: The remains of this dolmen can be found just to the east of the D.44 road, about 30 metres from the menhir. There is still quite a respectable mound of small stones, diameter about 12 metres, surrounding the remains of the dolmen, but the megalithic chamber has been largely destroyed, leaving not much more than a hollow in the centre of the tumulus. One large side slab and an entry stone are all that obviously remain in place.

Pierre Levée (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.251  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Beside the D.44 road west of St Flour, near to the hamlet of Fraissinet can be found this megalithic collection of a standing stone and two dolmens, within 300 metres of each other. The menhir is about 2 metres tall, and it stands just to the west of the road. It consists of a nice lump of pointy topped basalt.

Tombe du Capitaine

Trip No.205  Entry No.250  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: In a field to the west of the hamlet of Bouzentes, a few kilometres to the south of St Flour, by the D.116 road to Tanavelle can be found this dolmen. It's about 800 metres walk down a signposted track from the road, just at the western edge of the hamlet, and was in a field of cows (and a bull I belatedly noticed) when I visited. The single capstone, with cupules and engraved lines, sits on top of two side supports amongst a pile of loose stone in the middle of the field.

Uh Oh, time to go. The bull is getting quite inquisitive. Quick exit from the field over the fence, as far from Tauro as possible ! Well, I did have to come here, but I don't want it to become this Captain's tomb ! The dolmen is made from large basalt blocks, brought here from over a kilometre away. In excavations made in the 19th century, amongst the usual pottery sherds, flints and bones was found a polished axe. There are lovely big views all around from here.