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Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques
Trip No.204 Entry No.248 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Feb 2007. Menhir de la Croix Saint Jacques can be found in a field just to the south of the village of Tousson.
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Log Text: This menhir can be found in a field just to the side of the D.410 road, about 500 metres to the south of the village of Tousson. It stands about 3.3 metres tall, and is a rectangular section lump of sarsen. I found it difficult to park here.
Pierre de l'Armoire
Trip No.204 Entry No.247 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Pierre de l'Armoire submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Feb 2007. Pierre de l'Armoire can be found a couple of kilometres north of the village of Rumont.
It looks to be an Angevin type dolmen, with a rectangular chamber 4 metres long by 2.5 metres in width, and it is covered by a large capstone of irregular shape.
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Log Text: This dolmen can be found a couple of kilometres north of the village of Rumont, along the D.16a road. There is then a signpost to it, and it's about a kilometres walk from the road along a farm track.
The dolmen is within a cropped field, but has a reasonable area left around it, and is in the remains of a mound. it looks to be an Angevin type dolmen, with a rectangular chamber 4 metres long by 2.5 metres in width, and it is covered by a large capstone of irregular shape, up to 6 m by 4m, and it has a large hole in the west end. The entrance opens to the east at 115°, but there is not much of a porchway left, except some fallen stones. This was a nice find after all the recent poor dolmens, and nice to have it signposted.
La Roche au Diable (Paley)
Trip No.204 Entry No.246 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Marked near to the menhir is a polissoir stone, in the woods down by the little river. I could find no obvious signpost or footpath towards where it is marked, and having now found out how difficult to find some of these polissoir stones are to find, I didnt spend any time looking.
Polissoirs des Ortures
Trip No.204 Entry No.245 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Near the hamlet of Les Ortures, in the Bois Tranzy, there is a little signposted footpath near to the reservoirs. Along this path can be found two rock outcrops, the tops of which have been used for polishing stone tools. One of the two rocks has several grooves in it, while the other has a polishing basin.
La Pierre Clouée (Nanteau)
Trip No.204 Entry No.244 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Pierre Clouée (Nanteau) submitted by thecaptain on 17th Feb 2007. La Pierre Clouée, or Pierre Fitte, is a 4.5 metre tall menhir which can be found in a field south of the village of Villemarechal.
It has been ploughed very close to, and in fact is suffering from various collisions with agricultural machinery. There are also many old nails hammered into it.
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Log Text: This is a 4.5 metre tall menhir which can be found in a field south of the village of Villemarechal. Its near enough a kilometres walk from the roadside, but can easily be seen from there. It has been ploughed very close to, and in fact is suffering from various collisions with agricultural machinery. There are also several nails hammered into it. It also suffers from many overhead powerlines buzzing away, but it is still here after thousands of years, proudly overlooking the local landscape.
La Pierre Clouée translates roughly as the nailed stone - and it is an old folk tale that if one circles the stone seven times saying magic words, and then nails a bouquet to the stone, true love will be found.
Mérinville Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.243 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Today I went back for a proper look for the Mérinville Polissoir, which is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. I walked a lot down the forest track near to where it is marked on my map, but there was no chance of finding it without knowing exactly where to look. There is lots of marsh and ponds in the forest which doesn't help in trying to find anything. After quite some time going to look at any rock I can see, I decide its time to give up ! Shame.
Monte à Peine menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.242 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Monte à Peine menhir submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2007. Monte à Peine menhir is right beside the road, but almost lost in bushes and undergrowth.
It's just over 2 metres tall, and looks to be a lump of sarsen type stone.
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Log Text: Take Rue du Menhir east from the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais, and just after the first road junction the road bears round to the right. The menhir is right beside the road, but almost lost in bushes and undergrowth. It's just over 2 metres tall, and is a lump of sarsen type stone.
Menhir du Bois de Forville
Trip No.204 Entry No.241 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: To the south of Pers-en-Gâtinais there is a menhir and nearby polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this.
Polissoir des Davaux
Trip No.204 Entry No.240 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: At Pers-en-Gâtinais there is another polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this. Perhaps tomorrow.
Mérinville Polissoir
Trip No.204 Entry No.239 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005
Log Text: The Mérinville Polissoir is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. However, I am not exactly sure where to find it, and it is now pouring with rain, so I am not going to go for a long walk now, especially as it is getting late and starting to get dark. There is no sign to it, so I will for now leave it.
Menhir dit la Grande Roche
Trip No.204 Entry No.238 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 4 Access 3
Menhir dit la Grande Roche submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2007. To the west of the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais can be found this 2.5 metre tall menhir in a field beside the small road to Merville.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais can be found this 2.5 metre tall menhir in a field beside the small road to Mérinville. It is in the middle of a freshly ploughed field, so I didn't go right up to it, but it is only 50 metres from the roadside.
Pierre de Minuit Menhir
Trip No.204 Entry No.237 Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 18th Feb 2007. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4
Pierre de Minuit Menhir submitted by thecaptain on 18th Feb 2007. Approaching the Pierre de Minuit.
It's a kilometre or so west of the village of Louzouer, behind the Chaise farmhouse.
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Log Text: I wouldn't have bothered with this one, but was told I should visit it by the farmers wife at Coinche. And my thanks must again go to her. It is a wonderful stone, the tallest menhir in the Departement of Loiret. It is almost 5 metres tall, up to 2 metres wide and very variable in thickness. The stone is half a sort of holed and pitted sarsen like stone, on the west face, while the east face is a puddingstone conglomerate of flints and gravel. Most lovely. Much of the puddingstone face is crumbling, and now makes wonderful shapes, with bits sticking out here and there.
Where the puddingstone layer is thin, there are a couple of holes right through the menhir. It is said that women wanting to become mothers should sit in the chair at the top of the stone. Fantastic. This stone can be found a kilometre or so west of the village, behind the Chaise farmhouse, and can easily be seen from the road.
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.
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.
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.
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!
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.
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 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.
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.