La Berthellière

Trip No.202  Entry No.33  Date Added: 26th Mar 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 29th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: A lovely polissoir stone found a couple of kilometres southeast of the village of Montenay near to the town of Ernée in Mayenne. The stone is signposted and found in a little wooded area about 50 metres down a lane from the farm of the same name.

The stone is flat on the ground about 2 metres in length and about half to three quarters of a metre wide. It has 3 big polishing bowls several sharpening grooves and several other polished features. It is a very hard looking stone which has been polished fantastically smooth by thousands of years of stone tool making.

I am starting to really like these polissoir stones they really bring the ancient people to life sitting here polishing away at their axes and tools. They say far more than any dolmen or menhir to me.

Pierres dit Palais du Diable

Trip No.202  Entry No.41  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 30th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: 2 kilometres east of the village of Sainte Gemmes- le-Robert are marked two dolmens or megalithic monuments on my ign map one north and the other south of a little crossroads. The northern one consists of a large mound with many large stones scattered about. It looks at first like it may be the top of a natural to type of thing but the stones are too well laid out in unnatural shapes and alignments. There is one pile of stones which has three flat slabs perched on top of other large blocks in a row. Perhaps the whole thing is one giant burial mound. It is all covered with trees with lots of birds singing and a woodpecker pecking away with its loud ratatatatattatt.

Dolmen de la Crête

Trip No.202  Entry No.39  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 30th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: To find this allée couverte do not attempt to get to it from the east side through the forest (which looks to be easy on my map but most certainly is not) but proceed towards it from the village of Vautorte a couple of kilometres to the west. Signposted from the village (badly) when you get to near the site there is nowhere to park a camper van although a car may be OK.

This allée couverte is extremely well hidden in Mayenne Forest. The last signpost I saw vaguely pointed into the middle of the forest and any of three tracks could have been the right one ! This being my third attempt to find this (it’s well known from the excavations done here) I didn’t give up and after almost an hour searching I found it. It’s becoming well overgrown despite the fairly recent excavations. The main chamber is about 9 metres long by 1.5 metres wide oriented east west at 080°. Four capstones remain resting on the 11 stone uprights on the north side and 8 on the south side. The entrance is probably from the east end which is only one metre wide and less high and there seems to be a small antechamber at the west end. Some stones of its cairn remain around the outside.

La Tardivière

Trip No.202  Entry No.35  Date Added: 26th Mar 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 29th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Another little Mayenne allée couverte about 6 or 7 metres in length facing uphill and eastwards. It is in fairly ruinous condition with only one capstone remaining at the top end of about 8 pairs of upright stones. There is a large end stone at the lower western end.

It is found in open rolling countryside marked on my ign map but not signposted. At the time of my visit it was in an open field about a hundred metres down the farm track from the country lane where I parked. About 30 metres down from the dolmen was a fairly large stone at the side of the farmtrack. Possibly a marker stone for the tomb but I suspect more likely one of the stones from the allée couverte moved away and dumped at some point.

La Contrie du Rocher

Trip No.202  Entry No.34  Date Added: 26th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 29th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Another little Mayenne Allée Couverte a couple of kilometres north of Ernée which is signposted from there. It is found in the bottom of a little valley by a bend in a stream in a little woodland a few hundred metres walk along a little track from a farm.

The main chamber consists of 3 very large capstones resting on 6 pairs of uprights aligned on a bearing of 036° which sort of looks along the valley. The remains are about 6 metres in length but there are some remains which take the length of the structure to about 10 metres The entrance appears to be at the northeastern end but it is not definite as that end is quite ruined. It is quite low perhaps not much more than a metre at the current time and about 1.5 metres in width.

Some of the stones are very crude and massive blocks rather than nicely shaped slabs. There are many other large stones scattered around in this lovely little place. I give an ambience rating of 5 because at the time of my visit it was an enchanting place. The sun was going down and the birds were singing loudly. The stream which curves around the tomb was babbling away merrily and the whole wooded area was filled with wildflowers of all sorts bluebells aplenty and lots of purple flowers I didn’t recognise which looked like a sort of crocus. A marvellous little place I wish I could have spent more time at.

La Hamelinière

Trip No.202  Entry No.49  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: On the eastern outskirts of the village of Chantrigné this fine allée couverte can be seen looking to all the world like its in somebody’s private back garden. However the man in the house came out and showed me a way round the back (down the side lane then along a footpath between hedges) which gets you right to the allée couverte which is being set into its own little public area.

The remains of the main chamber are about 9 metres long 2 metres wide orientated 080° and has a divider stone placed across the inside of the chamber. Four large capstones remain with 9 stones still standing of the southern side 7 on the northern side which are not in pairs. Another capstone lies fallen near the entrance. Some of the internal stones have holes in them I do not know if they are natural or man made.

Dolmen des Erves

Trip No.202  Entry No.45  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 30th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is an easily found dolmen a couple of kilometres north of the fortified village of Saint-Suzanne which is quite well known for being the base of Hubert de Beaumont who took up refuge there after 1066 and made raids against the Normans before being put under siege by William in 1083. It is signposted from the village and has its own little parking area where it is situated in a little fenced off area surrounded by some very friendly young cows.

The remains are of a single large chamber which used to be covered by a mound of the Angevins type of which this is a very northern example. The rectangular chamber is about 4 metres by 3 metres in size and consists of two enormous capstones sitting on large upright slabs with an entranceway. The western internal end of the chamber has a capstone about 3 metres by 3 metres which rests on two side stones and one large end stone. The eastern part has a capstone about 3 m by 2 m resting on two side stones only but has two parallel entrance stones further to the east.

The rest of this chamber would have consisted of dry stone walling. Excavated in 1868 and again in 1983 it has been carbon dated to between 4000 and 4700 BC. It is said that there were another 3 dolmens and a menhir within sight of this chamber only a hundred years ago.

La Table des Diables

Trip No.202  Entry No.47  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 30th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Also known as La Pierre au Diable this site is an 800 metre signposted uphill walk southwards from a parking place near to la Vallette. As with many of these monuments this is at the top of a ridge within an enchanting forest full of birdsong and wildflowers – a cuckoo being particularly prominent here. The stones are surrounded by wizened old oak trees and large pines without which the views would be superb.

A lot of this site looks natural until you look closely. Apart from the very large (4 m by 2 m) stone sat on top of a rocky outcrop with a couple of small supports just west of this are remains of what looks to me like a wrecked allée couverte with two rows of parallel edge set stones about a metre apart. Perhaps the large rock on top of the outcrop was once a capstone for this ruined monument.

Petit-Vieux-Sou

Trip No.202  Entry No.31  Date Added: 26th Mar 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Yes on 29th Apr 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: A little Mayenne Allée Couverte 2.5 km southeast of Brecé village which was has been restored. It is found in a little wooded area a few hundred metres south of the country lane by the farm of the same name and is sort of built into the side of a little hillock just above a little stream.

The main chamber consists of 9 capstones on 10 pairs of stones aligned on a bearing of 316° with the lateral entrance central on the south western side. The external dimensions are about 12 m by 4 m with the internal chamber about 1.5 metres in width and height and fully contained within its mound which is built of stone blocks with drystone walling on the SW side and the two ends.

There are quite a few other large stones scattered around in the pleasant little glade full of bluebells and other flowers at the time of my visit which was my first megalithic site in my new campervan. The first of many.

Menhir de la Roche (Gorron)

Trip No.202  Entry No.24  Date Added: 26th Mar 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Couldn't find on 24th Apr 2005

Log Text: Unlike all the rest of the menhirs in this area I could find no signpost to this one despite it being clearly marked on the ign map and there being a large warehouse called Menhir Meubles or similar in the vicinity. After a while looking around I gave up not finding this one.

Bas Villette Dolmen

Trip No.202  Entry No.40  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Couldn't find on 30th Apr 2005

Log Text: I could find nothing here despite it being marked on my ign map. It is perhaps in private woodland.

Bignon Menhir

Trip No.202  Entry No.51  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Couldn't find on 1st May 2005

Log Text: To the southwest of the dolmen is supposedly a menhir and it is marked both on my ign map and on the local maps and footpath signposts. However it is probably to be found in very thick woodland and try as hard as I did I found no sight of it.

La Pierre au Diable

Trip No.205  Entry No.3  Date Added: 13th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Mayenne (53))
Visited: Couldn't find on 29th Aug 2005

Log Text: I couldn't easily find this one, nor anywhere to park to have a proper look. It is not very near to the road, and so I left.

Le Grand Dolmen de Bagneux

Trip No.204  Entry No.93  Date Added: 20th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is now round the back and in the garden of a bar, but not in a very nice area of town. When I was here, it was €3 to visit the dolmen and a little visitor centre, but nearly impossible to get decent photos as its to enclosed between all the surrounding roads.

The dolmen itself is massive, 22 metres in length, by 7 metres wide and almost 4 metres high. Four large capstones sit supported by about four side slabs each side, and with one massive backstone. This cannot be just a burial chamber, it must have had some other purpose - perhaps an indoor sports hall ! There is one stone left of an internal partition, but the angevine entrance has been a bit mutilated.

Etiau Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.86  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: In an area to the west of the hamlet, in an area rich in natural rock outcrops, can be found this strange little dolmen. It would appear that a large capstone has been positioned over a natural chamber, which is about 4 metres by 2 metres, this being a sort of split in the rocks. But there is more to it than that, as an entranceway has also been constructed, using two slabs set on their sides, and a backstone nicely in place also. Within the chamber, and on other stones in the vicinity, are lots of marks and grooves, which look like they have been used for polishing blades etc, although it is possible that they are just natural.

Beaupréau Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.72  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 14th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: About 600 metres walk round the back of the farm can be found this dolmen and its outlying menhir, which can clearly be seen from the road. The farmer was only too pleased to point it out to me. It's a fairly large Angevine dolmen, with chamber 4 metres by 3 metres, with a single capstone sitting on 2 large sidestones and a backstone. It opens to the east, and there are the usual couple of entry portals, although the northern one has fallen. Out the back is another smaller chamber, but this is falling down a bit, so it is difficult to make out where it would open to, probably to the south. Thirty metres to the west of the dolmen is a nice pointed menhir, probably about 3 metres high, but in a fenced off field with cows in, so I left it alone.

Caillère Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.88  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Despite not being marked on any of my maps, this dolmen is easy to find, right at the side of the street in the middle of Caillère, near to the manor. It's about 3.5 metres square, with four large sidestones and a single capstone. It shows evidence of having been lived in, with steps down into it, and what looks like a window cut into it, although it may be the original entrance. In this area of many troglodyte habitations, including the manor, it wouldn't be surprising to know that this dolmen was once lived in.

Dolmen de la Motte

Trip No.204  Entry No.89  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Just to the east of the village of Chemellier, and actually signposted from it, this dolmen is about 800 metres walk from where the road runs out, and just inside the forest. While I was there, there were a couple of deer mooching around nearby, and also a wasps nest inside the dolmen. Beware ! Until today, I would have called this a massive dolmen, but how things change - it looks quite small now ! It's a typical rectangular Angevine dolmen with the chamber about 4 metres by 3 metres, and standing up height inside. The entrance is to the east, but broken and largely non existant above ground level. The back stone has also fallen, leaving the broken in two pieces capstone just sitting on the large side slabs.

Avort Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.76  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Found about 80 metres to the west of the D.70 road southwest of Gennes, with a trackway leading to it. Its a typical Angevine dolmen with a 4 m by 2.5 m chamber, made using large slabs covered by a single large capstone. The entrance, and its two porch stones, is to the east. It is still substantially within its mound, atop which a tree is growing. The southern side slab is broken, allowing easy access.

Dolmen de la Pierrelée

Trip No.204  Entry No.103  Date Added: 20th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 16th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just to the south of Montsoreau, on the hills above the Loire valley can be found this strange dolmen. It was difficult to find and to park nearby, but its close to the Tete Loire cycle route, and signposted about 50 metres into a field under some trees. What's left of this Angevine dolmen is still within a mound, although how ancientthe mound is I wouldn't like to say. But the odd thing is that it has been lived in, and the inside has been rebuilt with stone blocks to allow a doorway and stairs down into it, which are not in the original entrance. It also has a fireplace and a chimney complete with pot, and a water trough. A most odd place.