Contributory members are able to log private notes and comments about each site
Sites TheCaptain has logged. View this log as a table or view the most recent logs from everyone
Calhau de Teberno Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.57 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Calhau de Teberno Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 8th Feb 2006. This nice dolmen can be found in a little landscaped bit of parkland, sandwiched between the D.920 road and the railway line.
It sits on top of a little hillock, which I wonder whether this is the remains of a large tumulus.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: This dolmen can be found in a nice little landscaped bit of parkland, sandwiched between the D.920 road and the railway line at the outskirts of the village of Buzy a couple of kilometres to the north of Arudy. There are many other rocks in the park, which have probably all been placed as features, but perhaps one or two are related to the dolmen.
It sits on top of a little hillock, which I wonder whether these are the remains of a large tumulus ? The chamber is largely below the level of the surrounding ground. The dolmen has a lovely curvy capstone sitting on top of a chamber 4 metres long by 1,5 metres wide, with nicely positioned side slabs each side (3 one side, 4 the other). There is a well fitted backstone, and the chamber opens to the southeast on an alignment of 135°, but perhaps more importantly this is looking directly towards the big gap in the mountains, which is the entry to the Ossau valley.
If it wasn't for the bad weather, and all the trees around, this dolmen would have superb views. I think that I later learn that the dolmen was possibly moved to its current position when the railway was constructed.
Dolmen de Barzun
Trip No.205 Entry No.56 Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Couldn't find
Dolmen de Barzun submitted by irundarra on 24th Jul 2010. in Bearn
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: My maps have nothing marked in detail as to the whereabouts of this dolmen, and I could find no details or signs to it in the village. Somehow I didn’t find this dolmen which I learned later is pretty much in the centre of the village in a little square. Doh !
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......
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
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.
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
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
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.
Grottes et abris préhistoriques de la vallée de la Save
Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 5
Grottes et abris préhistoriques de la vallée de la Save submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Nov 2010. In the gorges of the river Save, just below the village of Lespugue, can be found many caves and shelters which have yielded ancient remains of habitation from up to 30,000 years ago.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: In the gorges of the river Save, just below the village of Lespugue, can be found many caves and shelters which have yielded ancient remains of habitation from up to 30,000 years ago. Below the Chateau de Lespugue, but very difficult to get to due to the steep sides of the gorge and all the undergrowth is the Grotte de Rideaux (not far from the place where there is a rock in the middle of the road) within which was found the Venus de Lespugue figurine. Some of the many other Abris and caves are easily visited, being right by the roadside. This is a fascinating place, and amazing to think about all its long history. Well worth a look.
Grotte des Rideaux
Trip No.205 Entry No.44 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Ambience 5 Access 3
Grotte des Rideaux submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Nov 2010. In the gorges of the river Save, just below the village of Lespugue, can be found many caves and shelters which have yielded ancient remains of habitation from up to 30,000 years ago.
Below the Chateau de Lespugue, but very difficult to get to due to the steep sides of the gorge and all the undergrowth is the Grotte des Rideaux within which was found the Venus de Lespugue ivory figurine.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: In the gorges of the river Save, just below the village of Lespugue, can be found many caves and shelters which have yielded ancient remains of habitation from up to 30,000 years ago. Below the Chateau de Lespugue, but very difficult to get to due to the steep sides of the gorge and all the undergrowth is the Grotte de Rideaux (not far from the place where there is a rock in the middle of the road) within which was found the Venus de Lespugue figurine.
Musée de Lespugue
Trip No.205 Entry No.43 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Access 5
Musée de Lespugue submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Nov 2010. In the central square of the little village of Lespugue is a museum, which has an exhibition of 35,000 years of Lespugue.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: In the central square of the little village of Lespugue is a museum, which, as many European museums are, is closed on a Monday. This museum has an exhibition of 35,000 years of Lespugue. Outside the museum in a little grassy park is a 10 times lifesize copy of the Venus de Lespugue, a pregnant woman figure dated to 33,000BC, carved from a mammouth tusk which was found in a cave just below the village.
Musée de Préhistoire (Aurignac)
Trip No.205 Entry No.42 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 5th Sep 2005
Musée de Préhistoire (Aurignac) submitted by theCaptain on 29th Nov 2010. In the centre of Aurignac village is the prehistory museum, with all sorts of finds and items found in the local caves.
However, when I visited in September 2005, it was closed, with a notice stating that it had been closed in May 2004 by the Mairie, for an indefinite period.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: In the centre of Aurignac village is the prehistory museum, with all sorts of finds and items found in the local caves. It is situated underneath a little village square with parking available. However, when I visited, it was closed, with a notice stating that it had been closed in May 2004 by the Mairie, for an indefinite period. I have no idea why.
Grotte d'Aurignac
Trip No.205 Entry No.41 Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Haute-Garonne (31))
Visited: Yes on 5th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5
Grotte d'Aurignac submitted by theCaptain on 29th Nov 2010. Today, beside the D.635 road to the northwest of Aurignac village, there is a layby and picnic area, with a large noticeboard explaining about the site.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: Just to the north of the village of Aurignac can be found this important prehistoric shelter, where in 1852 a man was out hunting rabbit with his dog, and the dog found a bone down a hole. Upon the news of this discovery, the locals started investigating and found remains of 27 skeletons, which were removed and reburied in the local cemetery. In the 1860's, scientific excavations were done here, which found that the site had been occupied 30,000 years ago. Many tools, bones etc were found, and the site has given its name to a whole civilisation, the Aurignacian, which dates to between 30,000 and 25,000 years BC.
Today, beside the D.635 road to the northwest of Aurignac village, there is a layby and picnic area, with a large noticeboard explaining about the site. About 50 metres from the noticeboard, down a little track, and there is a small stream with a little bridge made from a large stone slab. Over the millennia, this stream has cut itself into a little cliff face, about 50 metres long by up to 10 metres high. In this cliff face is a large opening which is the first shelter excavated in 1862. There are also a few other smaller openings which have been excavated since, within which more finds were taken from. This is a nice and atmospheric little place. Pity about the rain !
La Roque-Saint-Christophe
Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 1978
La Roque-Saint-Christophe submitted by theCaptain on 6th Jan 2011. In a gigantic cliff face beside the river Vézère is found this World Heritage Site.
It's an entire troglodytic city which was inhabited continuously from 50000 years ago until a few centuries ago.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: Hitch Hiking Trip round France in the summer of 1978. Camped for a couple of days at Les Eyzies to visit and wonder at the ancient sites here.
Font-de-Gaume
Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 1978
Font-de-Gaume submitted by ocdolmen on 26th May 2006. Site in Aquitaine: Dordogne (24)
Entrance of Font de Gaume cave, Dordogne, France.
The entrance is on the right on the photo (the cave on the left is a dead end and presents no drawing)
Inside the cave, a great number of buffalos and horses drawings and some engraved drawings.
Magdalenian period (about 20.000 BCE)
One of the rare prehistoric cave with drawings still open to public.
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: Hitch Hiking Trip round France in the summer of 1978. Camped for a couple of days at Les Eyzies to visit and wonder at the ancient sites here.
Musée National de Préhistoire
Date Added: 21st Oct 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 18th Sep 1978
Musée National de Préhistoire submitted by dodomad on 5th Jul 2015. Exhibition: Signs of wealth. Inequalities in the Neolithic, running from 27th June 2015 to 15th November 2015
More details on our site page, in the comments section (click left)
(View photo, vote or add a comment)
Log Text: Hitch Hiking Trip round France in the summer of 1978. Camped for a couple of days at Les Eyzies to visit and wonder at the ancient sites here.