Pierres Closes de Charas 1

Trip No.203  Entry No.249  Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Its an odd one this, an oval shaped chamber about 1.7 metres long, 1 metre wide and 0.7 metres high has been carved out of a big block of rock. On top of this is a limestone capstone full of holes and cavities filled with lichens and wild flowers.

It can be found just to the northwest of the historic Naval town of Rochefort, amongst the marshes of the Charente river estuary. Not signposted, but marked on my ign map, I drove along some windy lanes to l'Houmee farm and walked about a kilometre along the track to the southeast and found it easily. The walk to this was really splendid, with Herons, Storks and other birds circling, Frogs making a noisy racket and insects chirrping away.

Dolmen d'Ors dit la Piare

Trip No.203  Entry No.247  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Remains of a once fairly large burial mound with several chambers contained within it, now fairly well destroyed, on the southern tip of the Ile d’Oleron, within the community of Le Château-d'Oléron. The remains of this dolmen are easily found, but not signposted, right beside the seawall in a little picnic area right at the southeastern tip of Ile d’Oleron where the road bridge makes landfall. If you get to the first building (a restaurant) from the bridge, you have already passed it.

The remains here consist of an approximately triangular capstone, sides of length 4 metres, and about a metre thick. Perhaps there are more stones underneath, and built into the sea wall. The stone is broken into two pieces. Closer inspection shows there to be a few other large stones in the vicinity of the capstone, now covered by land and the sea wall. Just on the sea side of the wall is the possible remains of another dolmen, or a broken off part of the first, which seems to be a bit of capstone sitting on the beach, surrounded by the sea when I arrived. There are no other large rocks like this in the vicinity, and it doesn't look like it should naturally be there. I have discovered since my visit that this indeed did used to be a fairly large mound, with several burial chambers within it.

Dolmen de la Pierre Levée (La Vallée)

Trip No.203  Entry No.244  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This is a bit more like it. Signposted to the north of the village of La Vallée, behind the churchyard along Rue du Dolmen, this dolmen is lovingly looked after in a nicely tended little area of grass on its mound amongst some trees.

It seems to be the remains of a large double chambered tomb, the main chamber being about 4 metres by 3.5 metres at the east of the mound, with a massive capstone now on the ground amongst the remains of about 10 or 12 uprights. To the west are what I am guessing is the remains of a secondary chamber, about 2.5 by 3 metres in size, but which now looks like not much more than a wrecked rectangle of stones with a bit of stone in the middle which was possibly part of a capstone.

La Pierre Levée (Sablonceaux)

Trip No.203  Entry No.242  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Signposted from the D.XXX road to Sablonceaux, this dolmen is about a kilometre walk along a track through the forest, but there are no more signs and it’s a guess as to which way to go at several junctions. I kept to the biggest track at each option, and eventually there it was to the right of the pathway. It has a little noticeboard, but there is not much more to see, just a pile of three stones in a little hollow. While I was here, the area around the dolmen was absolutely teeming with masses of little jumping spiders !

Sechebec Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.241  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This dolmen comes with its own block of flats, "Residence du Dolmen", which is currently for sale, in the western outskirts of Cognac, not too far from the big sports centre.

The 4.5 by 2.5 metre chamber is covered by a single large capstone, held up on 8 external support stones and with another stone on the inside, but it is not very high off the ground. It would not surprise me at all if this has been somewhat modified for safety reasons, as it is now part of a sort of play area surrounded by blocks of flats. But at least it is still here, and nice to look at.

Garde Epée Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.240  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: This is a big dolmen, the chamber of which is about 4 metres in length by 3 metres wide and 2 metres high. It has a single large backstone, with two side stones on the south side, only one on the north (the other is missing) and one at the eastern end. The capstone is two pieces, the larger western stone having several delightful holes in it and a warning sign saying not to climb onto it or stand underneath, as the stone is cracked and ready to break.

This dolmen is also suffering from graffitti and rubbish, but otherwise well looked after in a little clearing amongst the vines with its own sign. It can be found just to the south of the D.157 road, a couple of kilometres west of Jarnac.

Courades Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.238  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Probably once very similar to the St Fort dolmen, but this one has collapsed, probably fairly recently, and the capstone is now in several fragments on the ground. The chamber was once 5 metres by 2.5 metres, with a big closing stone to the west, and the entrance to the east. It seems to have carved stones paving the floor area, with the side slabs fitted closely to these.

It is easy to find, and is signposted about 600 metres along a track from the DXXX road, and is adjacent to a small flying club which takes its name from the dolmen, Aeroclub de Pierre Levée.

Saint Fort Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.237  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Signposted from the town of St Fort-sur-le-Ne, it is found about 1 kilometre to the east on top of a small hill amongst the Cognac vines. It is a real monster, looking like the skeletal remains of a dinosaur robot or something.

The chamber is 5 metres in length, by 2.5 metres wide, and the single, one metre thick capstone more than adequately covers that. It is held 2.5 metres high in the air by three large upright support stones, with the outline of the chamber having five more large stones in place.

Unfortunately, the poor thing suffers badly from graffitti, both written and carved, and it would seem to be used as a place for the local youth to come and drink, with empty bottles scattered all around. One of the side slabs has some strange carvings on it, perhaps a sort of window or entrance was once here, with the dolmen used as a house.

La Pierre a Cerclet

Trip No.203  Entry No.236  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This dolmen is a complete wreck, and can be found beside the D.134 road south of Charnac. It has had a little area of field left unplanted around it, but there's not much to see. There is just what seems to be a broken capstone and a few other bits and pieces laying about. I have since found out that this dolmen was destroyed as recently as 1978,

La Pierre Folle (Montguyon)

Trip No.203  Entry No.234  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This superb monument is signposted to the north of the town of Montguyon, and has its own parking and picnic area. It is a double monument, with an Aquitaine allée-couverte combined with a dolmen.

The allée-couverte part is massive, with a double chamber internally measuring 8 metres long, 1.5 metres wide and up to 2 metres high, facing east at 080°. The big capstone at the west end is 3 metres off the ground, 1.5 metres thick and is estimated to weigh 30 tonnes.

The dolmen part of the monument at the western end is much more complex to make out, at first seemingly being just lots of large stones all over the place. Looking in more detail however, suggests that it has a simple chamber with an entry corridor facing to the north, and incorporates the back stone of the allée-couverte as its eastern side.

These really are some impressive and lovely stones, and the angles of the capstones in particular are very striking. Some of the stones have fascinating holes and markings in them, many looking like they have been carved. And one of the stones at the entrance to the allée-couverte looks to be hollow, with a great big "chamber" within it. Quite a splendid place.

Pity the weather while I was here left a lot to be desired, and made getting good photographs difficult. Well worth a visit, and just as I was about to leave, a coachparty turned up. There is a sign which states that there are supposedly several other monuments nearby, including two more called Pierre Folle.

Peyrefitte

Trip No.203  Entry No.233  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Signposted from all around, and with a little parking area, this huge and nicely shaped menhir stands in a little field amongst the vines. This is the largest standing stone in southwest France, and it is 5.2 metres tall, 3 metres wide and less than a metre thick, with the bottom part of it chipped away to make the distinctive shape. There is a little hollow in the bottom of it, apparently made for offerings to be placed in during the middle ages.

Estimated to weigh 50 tonnes, the stone has been brought to this position from at least 2.5 kilometres away. It has been dated to 2500 BC, contemporary with the various allée-couvertes to be found in the region.

It is said by legend to mark an entry to the subterranean world, can cure rheumatism, and is good for curing a limp. But while I am here, a massive thunderstorm has arrived, and I must rush back to the van quickly.

Roquefort Allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.229  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 1

Log Text: This is a fantastic find, in the grounds of Roquefort Chateau, which is a very private area. I asked at the village about the allée-couverte, and got directed to the Chateau, which is still a very busy wine producer, so I went and asked there. I got taken by the owner to see the monument, and he also found and let me photocopy some documents and details they had about it.

Its a very big allée-couverte, especially for round here, still contained mostly within its long mound, but in a fairly ruinous condition. As with many of these monuments, the mound has got many big trees growing on it, with their roots digging in to the remains, and unfortunately several of these trees were blown down in the big storm of 19XX, substantially damaging the once fine chamber. It is 18 metres in length, with 22 support stones, with an east west orientation at 104°. Only 4 capstones now remain in place, and the end stone has cupules carved into it. Excavations were carried out in 1922 and again in 1977.

Pierre du Maine du Prieuré

Trip No.203  Entry No.228  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This is a big menhir stood at the edge of the roadside, at least 3.5 metres tall, and the top has been broken off. Not very well looked after, it is surrounded by junk, although by the marks on it, it looks to have been fairly recently re-erected.

Sabatey Dolmen 2

Trip No.203  Entry No.226  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Not the easiest dolmens to find, but they are signposted from the village of Bellefond to some degree, although a fair bit of guesswork is needed at certain junctions. Just to the left of Sabatey Farm, a gate opens into a field, from where you walk across to the woods, where the two dolmens can be seen on the right.

The first you find is Sabatey dolmen 2, which seems to mostly consist of a large pile of moss covered stones, with the remains of an allée-couverte sitting on top. A single remaining capstone has fallen, and the rest of the chamber is difficult to make out, but there are lots of large edge on stones present, possibly aligned on about 050°.

Sabatey Dolmen 1

Trip No.203  Entry No.227  Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: Not the easiest dolmens to find, but they are signposted from the village of Bellefond to some degree, although a fair bit of guesswork is needed at certain junctions. Just to the left of Sabatey Farm, a gate opens into a field, from where you walk across to the woods, where the two dolmens can be seen on the right.

Sabatey dolmen 1 is about 25 metres into the woods, and although it at first appears to be a similar jumble of stones, the remains of the allée-couverte on top are much more recogniseable. It is about 6 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, with one capstone in place and a couple more fallen, with the chamber oriented eastwards at 094°. The end closing stone has some cupules carved into it.

Curton Dolmen

Trip No.203  Entry No.225  Date Added: 21st Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: As I was driving towards Bellefond I saw a sign to Dolmen de Curton so I had to follow it but it’s a pity the large signs do not follow the one at the road junction up. There are one or two very small signs after this which I at first missed and these lead into a vineyard before they give up totally. Following the track on by foot for about 600 metres and you eventually reach the dolmen.

It is a little allée couverte on the reducing remains of its mound which has been ploughed right up to the edges and surrounded by vines. There are some nasty crackling power lines right overhead. One capstone remains on the two rows of sidestones which can be traced for about 8 metres facing an orientation of 110°. The end stone has some strange markings on it several short straight lines and a few horseshoe shapes but they are difficult to make out. Apparently 8 bodies were found within it when the chamber was excavated in 1904.

Pitray Allée couverte

Trip No.203  Entry No.224  Date Added: 21st Apr 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 1

Log Text: Well what a find this was. I found Pitray on the village map outside the Mairie and when I got there I found a long driveway up to a chateau with a couple of men working logging in the woodland who told me that they knew of the dolmen and that I should go and ask at the chateau. In the grounds surrounding the chateau a charming lady looking after her baby grandson came to talk to me who spoke good English and told me that she knew of the dolmen well and that she had known of it for many years but hadn’t seen it in a while and that we had best go ask her son in law the master of the chateau if I could go and see it. Another very pleasant man who seemed pleased that somebody was interested in the dolmen in his grounds. I was taken to the remains of the dolmen and on the way it was spoken about that they thought that they should probably clear them up as they are getting very overgrown and crumbling but they were not sure what they are allowed or are supposed to do with them. They are quite difficult to find being as overgrown as they are in some dense woodland and it took a while to find it. I was told that a couple of men from CNES had been round and taken measurements about 20 years ago and had told the owners that there was probably nothing of interest to be found as it would have been fully dug out last century.

The remains are 10 metres in length with large side slabs up to 1.7 metres high placed about 1.2 metres apart making a chamber with an orientation of 074° but there are no cover stones. The back stone is about 2.3 metres in width and the side stones are graded in height with the tallest at the back. There are 3 big and 2 medium sized stones on the northern side and 3 big 3 medium sized stones along the southern side with some smaller stones curving away towards the path into the woods. Some of the stones have strange holes in them which seem to be perhaps more than just weathering. Not far away towards the northeast is a strange arrangement of smaller stones in a double parallel row which align directly to the entrance of the allée couverte.

The owner has no idea what these are or whether they are related or not but interesting nevertheless. These stones are even more overgrown. I was told that the chateau often has Scouts stay within the grounds and that recently a lot of girl scouts had been staying there had found the allée couverte and had rigged up a shower within the chamber complete with makeshift shower curtain! They had not been too impressed when told that they had made their shower within an ancient tomb !

These megalithic remains are on very private land and I was privileged to be allowed into the woods and shown them. A visit should not be attempted without permission.

Dolmen de Puy Landry

Trip No.203  Entry No.222  Date Added: 21st Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: The old chap at Chateau Pierre Levée knew of this dolmen's existence but the chap at Puy Landry winery didn’t but he pointed me in the direction of a menhir on the top of Puy Landry hill about a kilometre to the north but ce n’est pas grand.. I initially thought it was too far to go walking to in the intense heat and suspected he was pointing me to the Clotte menhir on the ridge but having driven nearby to have a better look it didn’t seem so far. About 400 metres from the D21E road up a track between the vineyards to the top of the ridge and in the woodland can be seen a standing stone.

Closer inspection shows the stone to be about 1.5 metres tall with a fallen companion about a metre away to the north. These stones are on top of a mound running in an easterly direction and there are several other stones lying about in the vicinity which leads me to suspect that this is indeed the remains of a dolmen or allée couverte.

Pierre Levée (Salles-de-Castillon)

Trip No.203  Entry No.221  Date Added: 21st Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: This one comes with its own wine! While driving from Peyre Lebade towards Clotte I saw this stone standing at the entrance to a farmhouse wine producer and noticed that the farm was called Chateau de la Pierre Levée.

I stopped to have a better look and a man on his tractor in the vineyard came over to me so I tried to ask him about the stone. Apparently somewhere in his garage he has an archaeological panel with some information on it which he intends to get erected by the stone but he couldn’t find it. He called his wife who told him it was in the garage and went to look for herself also to no avail ! At this point I enquired of their wine and got taken on a little tour of the place and a tasting or two (how could I refuse?) so of course bought a case of mixed vintages for a very reasonable price as a souvenir.

The menhir at the entrance is just over 2 metres tall but I have to say looks fairly recently erected there although the stone looks as old as the hills. I think I saw somewhere that the menhir after which the wine is named was in a corner of a field. Perhaps it has been fairly recently moved here. It’s a pity I couldn’t fully converse with the chap he had a thick accent which didn’t help and although we chatted well about simple things the details were missed.

Peyre Lebade

Trip No.203  Entry No.220  Date Added: 21st Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: While looking at the village map by the Mairie to see if it marked any of the supposedly local ancient stones I noted an area called Peyre Lebade so of course I went to have a look. In the corner of the road junction here to the west of the village centre can be seen a small standing stone fenced in to a little grassy garden area. It cant be much more than a metre tall and is well weathered so I assume it’s a proper menhir.