Les Ecuelles du Diable

Trip No.205  Entry No.141  Date Added: 11th Nov 2020
Site Type: Holed Stone Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: Within the grounds of the St Michel de Grandmont Priory there are many strangely shaped and carved rocks. There are stories of sacrifice, and there being channels cut in the rocks for the blood to run through. Several of the rocks seem to have been cut into what are possibly thrones. A very strange area.

Grandmont Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.140  Date Added: 11th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 2

Log Text: This menhir is about 1.5 metres high, 2 metres width, and standing in an area with many other strangely shaped and carved rocks.

Bruyère d'Usclas

Trip No.205  Entry No.143  Date Added: 11th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 17th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a lovely dolmen, but was a bit of a bugger to find, despite a large signpost. Taking the road from Lodeve east to Saint-Michel-de-Grandmont, travel 800 metres further than the entrance to the priory. Here there is a junction with two large forest tracks and a parking area, with a large sign pointing down the first forest track to "Dolmen Bruyère d'Usclas".

I walked miles, and saw no evidence of the dolmen, but found three ladies sitting in the forest. I asked them and they pointed out the error of my ways - I had gone way too far and walked round in much of a big circle around the hilltop. From the parking at the junction, only walk about 200 metres (about 150m past a big tank), then look for a little path down the hillside into the forest on the left. It is marked with a little pile of stones, but I do mean little ! Fifty metres down this path through the trees is the dolmen.

It has much in common with the nearby dolmen de Coste-Rouge, a similar sized (but not so high) chamber set in a circle of stones, many of which are the red volcanic rock. The capstone, which is unfortunately broken at the back, sits on four perfectly fitted support stones, with the side stones angled inwards. The front stone does not have the oven door, but the entrance is to one side, which shows evidence of a carved and enlarged opening area. The chamber is about 2.5 m long by 2 m in width. The stones are fitted so well that almost no light gets in apart from through the entrance.

Moulin-de-Louat 1 statue-menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.130  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This wonderful chap is stood looking out of his garden shed towards the stream, at the entry to the hamlet of Moulin-de-Louat, just over half a kilometre from Moulin-Mage. I gave up trying to get the van along the roads to the hamlet, and walked from Moulin-Mage.

The stone is about 1.5 metres tall, and made from a very pink coloured rock. This chap has all the decorations and more that a statue-menhir should have, as it has both male and female attributes. The markings are very clear, and can easily be made out. The face has eyes, nose and tattous, with what also looks like hair to the sides. He has arms with fingers, an axe and bow, a belt with chevrons and buckle (which goes all the way round the back) and legs with toes. However, it also has breasts, probably added later, and the "hair" is probably the necklaces of the female. Round the back, not only is there the belt, but the long hat and shoulder things can be seen. This is really superb.

Just nearby, for company, is another nice stone, of about the same size, but a greyish black rock. I am unsure whether this is an ancient menhir or just a modern addition. It's a nice stone though, and probably keeps our man company.

Pailhemalbiau statue menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.133  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Coming from Plos, this fine fellow stands in a little shed protecting him from the worst of the weather, just inside the yard of the first farmhouse on the right. Like the Moulin-de-Louat statue-menhir it's a lovely piece of reddish pink stone, and was only discovered in 1981.

He stands 2 metres tall, and all his features can be clearly made out, both front and back. He has two rings for eyes, but no nose or tattous on his face. Arms and hands are clear, as is his "Objet" on its shoulder strap. His belt has a nice buckle, and his legs have all their toes clearly in place. He carries a weapon identified as a boomerang on the information sheet I have. The belt and shoulder strap continue round the back, and he has the full long hat or plait. This really is an excellent statue menhir, although it is difficult to photograph decently.

Pech-de-Naudène statue-menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.126  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Turn off the D.622 Lacaune to Moulin-Mage road to the left, about a kilometre after the big Peyro-Lebado chap, and proceed to the hamlet of Haute-Vergne. Go through the farmyard to the top, then left and right, and the statue-menhir can be seen in the front garden of one of the houses. At the time of my visit, it was standing nicely at the back of where a caravan is kept. The people here were happy enough for me to visit and take a photograph, but the farm dogs didn't seem to like my being there, so I didn't hang around long. The stone is only 1.3 metres high, but is clearly engraved as a male chappy, with face (eyes, nose and tattous), arms, belt and legs well visible. The back has its detail too, but I didn't see these.

Barraque-des-Fourniols statue-menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.119  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This statue-menhir is now to be found at the entrance to the car park at the Rieu-Montagné Musée des Traditions, beside the Lac du Lauzas, near to Nages. It is about 1.4 metres high, and it is well shaped, but any engravings are extremely faint, to the point of being invisible to me.

Favarels statue-menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.134  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: The real statue menhir has been taken inside the museum at Murat, but a replica has been made and put in the place of the real one outside the information office. Its only about a metre tall, but has all the right features, face with tattous, arms with fingers, legs with toes, belt with buckle and shoulder straps with "Objet". He also carries an axe. I don't quite know where the museum is where the real one has now been put, and it would be closed at this time in the evening anyway.

Plos statue menhir 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.132  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Probably once a statue-menhir, this is not classed as such as no discernible features can be seen engraved on it. That’s what several thousands of years of weather does for you. The menhir is the right shape, just over 2 metres tall and 1.5 metres wide. Its to be found beside the road, just to the south of the hamlet of Plos.

Rieu-Montagné museum

Trip No.205  Entry No.122  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Museum Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Access 5

Log Text: This museum is in a glorious little spot in the woods beside the Lac du Lauzas, to the south of Nages. It is linked with a leisure centre with a park and beach, and all sorts of activities to do. As part of the museum, there are several statue menhirs included, some in the grounds outside the building.

Trédos menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.120  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: About 30 metres from the Barraque-des-Fourniols statue-menhir, up the entry path towards the museum, is planted this menhir. Obviously broken in the past, it has been put back together from several pieces with the aid of concrete. It has been quite nicely done. It is about 1.6 metres high.

Granisse statue-menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.123  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Found while building a road in 1969, this lovely statue-menhir has been saved and erected outside the tourist office in the town of Lacaune. Unfortunately, it is kept within a north facing glass case, so getting photographs is nigh on impossible in the strong sunlight, with reflections of everything obscuring things. It is about 1.4 metres tall, and the main features of a female statue-menhir can clearly be seen. She has legs, belt, arms, breasts, collar and face. Lovely.

Trou-de-l'Avent menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.124  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Once standing about 4 metres tall near to the Pierre Plantée de Lacaune, this menhir was broken up for use in building a mill and farm. The top 1.5 metres has now been rescued and installed in the Place de Griffoul in Lacaune town centre, just 100 metres behind the tourist office.

What a menhir this once would have been. In this pleasant little square are several other notable features, such as the 14th century laundry basins, and the 16th century Fontaine des Pisseurs, which was made to glorify the Dieuretic effect of the local waters !

Nages menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.138  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Right outside the back of the church in Nages can be found this little menhir, planted in a little flower bed. It is about 1.4 metres tall and 0.6 metres wide, and made out of a nice dark grey, almost black stone. The front face is very smooth, but it is rough on all other sides.

Pré-de-Roi Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.135  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: The Pré-de-Roi menhir is found right beside the road to the west of Murat, just beyond the road to the village of Candoubre. It is 2.5 metres tall, nearly 2 metres wide, and looks for all the world like it should be carved into a statue menhir. Perhaps it once was, and all the features have been eroded away by several thousand years of being in the open. A nice menhir anyway.

Paumérou menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.136  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Near to the large industrial buildings, right beside the road from Murat, and a kilometre west of the Pré-de-Roi menhir can be found this nice stone. At just over 2 metres tall, 1 metre wide and 40 cm thick, it almost looks shaped to have a head, or am I now just imagining things after seeing so many statue-menhirs around here today ? The menhir has nice diagonal markings with moss filled grooves.

Carrieres menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.137  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: While driving through Carriers towards Nages from the southeast, I saw a little menhir shining in the low sun beside the road near to a cross. Its not much more than a metre tall, and possibly once had markings on it, and is a very pale coloured stone. It is nicely presented in its little garden like setting.

Combeynart Statue-Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.129  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This is a very tall thin male statue-menhir just at the north of the village of Cantoul. It stands just over 2 metres tall, but only 40 cm width, and certain of his features are equally scrawny. Legs, belt and "objet" can be made out but the rest is a bit of a jumble. The roads round here are very narrow and windy, I am not sure that I'll get the van out! Again, these outdoor statue-menhirs are wearing badly, and even the modern graffitti is wearing off.

Rieuviel statue menhir 1

Trip No.205  Entry No.127  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This beautiful little stone, only 1.2 metres tall, is easily found on a bit of land being used by the road mending gang as a parking place for their machinery when I visited, just at the entry to the hamlet of Rieuviel. Unfortunately, the stone seems in much danger here, with cars and machinery parked all around it, and it needs better protection.

Although I was here in bright mid day sunlight from behind the stone, the engravings could clearly be seen, and this is a feminine statue. Face, necklaces, breasts, arms, belt can be seen on the front, and hair on the back. Disappointingly, her legs have broken off at some time. She really needs better looking after than this. I'll take her in !

Rieuviel statue menhir 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.128  Date Added: 10th Nov 2020
Site Type: Sculptured Stone Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 16th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This fine male statue-menhir is to be found through the hamlet of Rieuviel, about 100 metres beyond the last house, and always bearing to the right. He is concreted in to a little plinth, and makes a sort of entrance to the lane with a cross mounted on the other side. Unfortunately, the poor chap is being used as a fence post, and the wire fence is scratching and degrading this 5000 year old stone.

It stands about 1.7 metres tall, and the engravings on the front are superb, and very clear. He has a full face, arms (with fingers), collar piece, belt with buckle, legs (with toes). I could not make out what weapons he carries, and the back is not clear. He really is a fine fellow, and should not be treated in the poor way that he is. He and his female neighbour need better looking after.