La Pierre qui Vire (Rochepot)

Trip No.204  Entry No.208  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Côte-d'Or (21))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: High up on the ridge to the south of the village of Rochepot, with its fantastic chateau and well known wines, can be found this stone which turns. There's not much left to see, except the big capstone which is sort of triangular shaped, 4 metres by 3 metres. There are traces of a mound, and a chamber underneath, but nothing really substantial remains.

There are supposedly several dolmens and an allee couverte in the Rochepot community, but if this is the only one on the maps, I doubt I will find any of the others, so decide to give up now on looking for more.

Mont-de-Sène dolmen 1

Trip No.204  Entry No.207  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Couldn't find on 3rd Aug 2005

Log Text: Remains of at least three dolmens and their mounds are to be found on the slopes of Mont-de-Sène, high up above the village of Dezize-les-Maranges.

Cul Blanc Dolmens

Trip No.204  Entry No.205  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Yes on 3rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Cul Blanc 1: Still within most of its tumulus, this dolmen is on the northern slopes of Mont des Troix Croix, high up above the village of Dezize-les-Maranges at a junction of the tracks. The circular mound is about 15 metres in diameter, and the dolmen is in the middle. The chamber is about 2.5 metres in length by 1.3 metres wide, open to the south and covered with a triangular limestone capstone, of dimensions 3m by 3m by 3m. It was very difficult to find my way to, lots of roads shut for maintenance, and a complete absence of any signs except for all the local vineyards. Supposedly one of two dolmens here.

Cul Blanc 2: Ah, yes, here it is. The second one is about 40 metres further down the hillside, and still completely within its mound, making it very difficult to see amongst the bushes. Probably similar to the first dolmen, the chamber cannot be seen, just the top of the capstone is exposed.

Menhirs d'Epoigny

Trip No.204  Entry No.204  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: Just to the south of the D.978 road, a few kilometres north west of Couches, is a sign to menhirs, which I of course followed. About a kilometre from the main road is a little road junction, and several menhirs can be seen in the fields. It's hard to make out exactly what the menhirs represent, and how accurate they are is open to question, as they have all been re-erected in concrete bases fairly recently.

Near the side of the lane is a row of three superbly sculpted menhirs, the southern one being 5.5 metres tall, with several carved lines and cupmarks. The central menhir is about 4.5 metres tall, but has lost its top, while the northern menhir is fallen and broken (in actual fact it looks to have been cut up) and would perhaps have been bigger than its neighbours. The three menhirs are evenly spaced about 7 metres apart, and are aligned NW to SE at about 125°. Forty or fifty metres away to the north, are another pair of menhirs, both about 4.5 metres in height, and again they are superbly shaped and dressed. These are spaced at about 10 metres from each other, and align NE to SW at 025°, and any intersection passes through the row of three but not at any stone. Of this pair of menhirs, the southern one has a few cupules carved into it, while the northern one is decorated with lines, cupules and at least one axe, and a few more serpent like lines. Just outside this field, beside the road junction, is a sixth menhir, this one only about 2 metres tall and broken, and which does not align with any of the others.

It is thought that there was once more menhirs here. This feels like a very powerful place, up on this hill. I feel all trembly here, and in awe of the stones, and find it hard to leave.

Pierre Guénachère

Trip No.204  Entry No.203  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a large granite blockdeep in the forest near a little stream, about one kilometres walk from the farm of La Madeleine, just to the west of St Emiland. Take the track beside the farm, keeping left, and after some distance it is signposted.

The stone is a granite block, 4m by 3m by 2m high, which has got several strange carvings in it, particularly large circles. On the north side there are three circles, between 70 cm and 1 metre in diameter, while on the south side there is a straight line and a large, deeply cut circle, more than one metre in diameter. These symbols seem to have been very roughly hewn with stone tools, and it is thought that they are prehistoric. There are many legends associated with this stone, of which I don't know any.

Pierre-aux-Fées (St-Micaud)

Trip No.204  Entry No.202  Date Added: 26th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is a very large menhir right beside the D.28 road in front of a large house in the village of St-Micaud. I would estimate it to be about 7 metres tall, but its not easy to tell as it is in the private garden and surrounded by a hedge. The menhir is of rectangular shape, nd has very uneven surfaces, and has perhaps got some carvings on it.

Menhir d'Uxelles

Trip No.204  Entry No.201  Date Added: 26th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Couldn't find on 2nd Aug 2005

Log Text: I see in my notes that there is a menhir to be found in the commune of Uxelles, but there is nothing to be found on any of my maps, and I could find no signposts to it or reference to it on any of the village signs.

Pierre-Levée du champ de la Fa

Trip No.204  Entry No.200  Date Added: 26th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bourgogne:Saône-et-Loire (71))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Near to the medieval village of Brancion, beside the D.14 road, can be found this nice menhir, which has a fine view to the west. It stands about 4 metres tall with a cross on the top in a field close to the turn off to Pierre-Levée farm, on a bad corner. It was raining horribly while I visited.

La Pierre-des-Fievres

Trip No.204  Entry No.198  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Haute-Loire (43))
Visited: Yes on 28th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 1 Access 4

Log Text: The Cathedral of Puy-en-Velay is said to be built on the site of an ancient dolmen, part of which is still in existance as La Pierre des Fievres which is kept and presented near to one of the entrances. It is said that this stone is a part of the coverstone for the dolmen which stood in this sacred place for thousands of years before the coming of Christianity. It is believed that the dolmen was complete until the 9th century, when it was broken by a bolt of lightning, but that the Pilgrims to this place ensured that a part of it was kept here. The stone is highly venerated, and many miracles are attributed to it, including many which involve curing fever, after which it is named. For many years the stone was kept within the Cathedral, but then was put in a place outside so that ill people could have easier access to touch it. To this day, the Cathedral and a dolmen are a symbol of this town of Pilgrimmage, which is an important stopping place on the way of St James.

Dolmen de Saint-Michel d'Aiguilhe

Trip No.204  Entry No.197  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Haute-Loire (43))
Visited: Yes on 28th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition -1 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: The 11th century Chapel St Michel is built on the ridiculously pointed site of the volcanic Aighuille. But it is built on top of the site of a previous chapel, which was said to have been built on top of a dolmen, or some other megalithic structure.

L'Usteau du Loup

Trip No.204  Entry No.196  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 27th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: To the south of St-Gervazy, near to the hamlet of Unsac, can be found the remains of this fine dolmen, perhaps the largest in the region, and which is signposted from nearby. On a little granite outcrop, near to the village sports ground, surrounded by high hills, it sits under an oak tree.

The chamber is rectangular, 5 metres long by 3 metres wide, is constructed with three granite side slabs each side, and opens to the east. There is in place one very large backstone, along with one smaller one. Unfortunately there are no capstones in place, although one lays fallen behind the chamber with another one nearby. The dolmen would have been almost tall enough to stand up in, and is much larger than any other dolmens I have seen round here.

This is a fine place for a wolf to live, and there are many legends and stories associated to the place. This is also a megalithic monument which has been used for thousands of years, and was used until recently as a sort of changing room for the village football team which plays on the nearby sports field !

Menhir dit Pierre Fichade

Trip No.204  Entry No.195  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 27th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: The Pierre Fichade at Champeix is a pleasant menhir, about 4 metres tall and which can be found in a field to the south of the D.28 road between Ludesse and Champeix. It is easily visible from the road, and can be visited via a couple of farm tracks. There are signposts to it along the local footpaths, and in fact it is signposted from the village of Champeix.

Menhir de Villars

Trip No.204  Entry No.193  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Jul 2005

Log Text: This little menhir, less than 2 metres tall, can be found in the hamlet of Villars, near to the lavoir in the village square. On the top of the menhir is mounted a curious cross with a carving of Christ on it. Again, I missed this only because I did not know of it. There were once three menhirs to be found in the commune of Orcines.

Thedes Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.192  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Jul 2005

Log Text: Approximately 2 metre tall menhir with an iron cross mounted on the top of it. It is to be found at the D.5 and D.90 road junction just to the west of the hamlet of Theddes, and is marked as a cross on the ign map. I must have driven right by it, perhaps twice.

Dolmen de Samson

Trip No.204  Entry No.191  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Couldn't find on 26th Jul 2005

Log Text: Marked on the ign maps, this is now thought to be a natural rock formation. It looks to be an hours walk from anywhere to get to it in its hilltop position, so I didn't go. However, excavations have been carried out here, and fragments of neolithic pottery were found.

Cournols allée couverte

Trip No.204  Entry No.190  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: To the south of the village of Cournols, and on a signposted walk from there, can be found the remains of this curious dolmen. Excavated in 1841, various things were found which are now in the Clermont Ferrand museum. Said to be an allée couverte, its not much like any other allée couvertes I have seen!

It looks more to me like a sort of double dolmen, with two chambers beside one another, both about 3.5 by 2 metres in dimension, and rectangular. The entrance would have been from the east, and central to the two chambers. The back stones at the west and the southern side stones are all still in place, with various other bits and pieces of support stones. Only one broken capstone remains in place, but until fairly recently this was two capstones, with three present in 1835. There are bits and pieces of much broken stone laying around beside it.

The dolmen is now in a little country park area, with a sign, in a region of granite outcrops high above the gorge of the Monne river. Strangely, it also has a football pitch.

Pierre Longue (Fohet)

Trip No.204  Entry No.189  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a lovely menhir standing four and three quarter metres tall at the top of the high hills near the village of Fohet. Its obviously been fairly recently re-erected, as one side is all dirt covered from being on the ground, and there is a sign in the village pointing to "menhir couché"! The views from here are breathtaking in all directions. To the northwest the Chaine-des-Puys range of volcanoes, with Puy-de-Dome standing high above the others in the line of almost cartoon perfect cones. To the east there are long views over the hills and deep valleys, and to the south can be seen the other Auvergne mountains. To the southwest is Puy-de-Sancy, unfortunately today covered in clouds.

Plateau de Sailles tumulus

Trip No.204  Entry No.188  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: High up in the hills to the north of St-Nectaire, beside the D.640 road across the Plateau de Sailles, are a couple of round cairns on a hilltop. Closer inspection reveals them to be made of stones piled up, with perhaps some large slabs within. Just seeing these here against the skyline makes me wonder just how many more there may be around here, either lost in the woods or ploughed out.

Freydefond Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.186  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a superbly positioned menhir, made from a hexagonal block of crystalline volcanic basalt, up on top of the high hills overlooking St-Nectaire (of cheese fame) in the deep valley below, and with splendid views all around, except for the various trees and woods in places. It is now only about 1.5 metres tall, but the top has obviously been broken off, and indeed something has been cemented on to it at some point. This menhir is easily found down a trackway from the road above Sailles, and can be seen from quite long distances.

Saint Roch Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.185  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This menhir can be fairly easily found by following marked footpaths for a mile or so from St-Nectaire to Croix-St-Roche, high up on the hill, beside the track which passes from one valley to the next. It's about 2 metres tall, and made from a hexagonal block of crystalline volcanic basalt, the sort which they call orgues (organ pipes) round here. Very nice. If it weren't for all the trees, the views from here in many directions would be superb, with the Puy-de-Sancy mountain off to the west, across which are rolling lots of wet looking clouds ! Think I'd best get back.