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Buzareingues dolmen 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.169 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Buzareingues dolmen 2 submitted by thecaptain on 28th Nov 2005. Buzareingues 2 dolmen, these days not much more than a broken capstone.
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Log Text: This dolmen is a wreck, just really the broken remains of a capstone, although the remains of one of the side slabs can be made out. As with its much better condition neighbour, it aligns towards the east, facing directly to a significant hill, the Puech de las Fadès, with a cliff face and what looks to be a shaped top.
Buzareingues Dolmen 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.168 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Buzareingues dolmen 1 submitted by thecaptain on 28th Nov 2005. Buzareingues 1 dolmen is a nice little thing, still almost completely contained within its mound.
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Log Text: This is a lovely little dolmen sitting on top of a nice little mound, which is still a couple of metres high, but which is not much larger than the by now standard chamber 4 metres long, 1.8 metres wide, facing 104°. It aligns directly to a significant hill, the Puech de las Fadès, which has a significant cliff face and what looks to be a shaped top, to which many legends are attached. It is quite easily found, and signposted, but there isnt anywhere to park a camper van without obstructing the track, so I was in a bit of a hurry here.
Galitorte Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.167 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 5
Galitorte dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 26th Nov 2005. Perhaps importantly, the chamber opening frames perfectly a significant hill on the horizon.
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Log Text: This one is a nice find in the evening sun towards the end of a long and mostly fruitless day, and is signposted from several places around.
The dolmen stands proud on the eastern end of a long oval mound, its chamber made with two enormous side slabs each 4 metres long by 2 metres high. The capstone sits nicely on top, but is not as long as the chamber below, which faces east with a bearing of 102°. Perhaps more importantly than the bearing is that the opening frames perfectly a significant hill on the horizon.
After taking the picture from within the chamber, I nearly knocked myself out by quickly standing up inside. I can report that the capstone gives a nice ringing clang when hit in this manner, and I had to sit down to recover for several minutes afterwards, before I could walk back to the van !
Dolmen de Surguières 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.165 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen de Surguières 2 submitted by johnstone on 4th Dec 2018. Close up of the back (?) entrance, June 14, 2006
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Log Text: The wrecked remains of Surguières 2. At some point in the past, this has been turned into a little house, or a shepherds hut. It is in a lovely spot, with tremendous views over the valley to the south.
Dolmen de Surguières 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.164 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen de Surguières 4 submitted by theCaptain on 13th Sep 2012. Inspired by the recent humorous signpost picture, here is one I had to photograph during my travels back in 2005.
Just east of the hamlet of Surguières there is a track to the south, signposted to dolmens. At the first junction, there is a dolmen sign in both directions, to the right leads to the Surguières or Cans group of dolmens. To the left leads to the Saplous group of dolmens.
A win win junction if ever there was one, and delightful signs!
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Log Text: Just to the south of the road which leads east to the hamlet of Surguières, about 800 metres west of the village, this dolmen can be seen by its mound. The capstone has slipped off to the side, and it is all a bit of a jumble, although the large side slabs are easily recogniseable.
Dolmen de Saplous 4
Trip No.203 Entry No.162 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen de Saplous 4 submitted by regina on 22nd Oct 2011. Cibournièr-de-Lacam
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Log Text: This one is a fair old hike from the village of Surguières, where there is a track to the south, signposted to dolmens. At the first junction, the track to the left takes you on a long walk past the dolmens de Cans, and going further, and then to the right across a couple of fields (signposted) you eventually come to the remains of this, in the corner of a field under some trees.
It is fairly wrecked and heavily overgrown, but worth a look, as it is a double chambered tomb. There are two 4 metre long, by 1.8 metre wide, slab lined deep chambers in line with each other. but there are no capstones to be found.
Dolmen de Saplous 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.161 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen de Saplous 1 submitted by theCaptain on 19th Sep 2012. It is a bit of a wreck, hidden under a tree and some scrub just beside the trackway, with just some stone structure visible amongst the brambles.
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Log Text: A bit further along the track from Cans 2 is the remains of Cans 1 dolmen. It is a bit of a wreck, hidden under a tree and some scrub just beside the trackway, with just some stone visible amongst the brambles.
Dolmen de Saplous 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.160 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen de Saplous 2 submitted by theCaptain on 7th Sep 2012. Still in an oval tumulus, a rounded capstone sits on top of its chamber. Dolmen de Saplous 2
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Log Text: Just east of the village of Surguières there is a track to the south, signposted to dolmens. At the first junction, there is a dolmen sign in both directions, to the left takes you on a long walk to the dolmens de Cans. After a kilometre or so, you reach the dolmen de Cans 2, in a field to the right. Still in an oval tumulus, a 4 metre rounded capstone sits on top of a 4 metre long, by 1.5 metre wide chamber, which opens to the east facing 077°.
Tumulus de Montaubert
Trip No.203 Entry No.155 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Tumulus de Montaubert submitted by TheCaptain on 10th Apr 2011. Above Salles-la-Source, to the northeast, are roadsigns to the supposedly nicely restored Peyrelebade dolmens, which I did not find.
All I could find for sure while walking north in the scorching heat along the track towards Cadeyrac, was a fenced off small mound in a field to the west of the track.
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Log Text: Above Salles-la-Source, to the northeast, are roadsigns to the supposedly nicely restored Peyrelevade dolmens, which I did not find. All I could find for sure while walking north in the scorching heat along the track towards Cadeyrac, was a small mound in a field to the west of the track, quite near to where I left the van.
Dolmen de Jasse Rouge
Trip No.203 Entry No.154 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen de Jasse Rouge submitted by TheCaptain on 9th Apr 2011. Amongst the undergrowth are several mounds of stones here, one of which has the remains of a chamber visible in one of its sides.
The mound has been much messed about by farming, and field clearance, and it is difficult to tell what is original. The remains of the chamber are open, and not at all cared for.
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Log Text: Amongst the undergrowth are several mounds of stones here, one of which has the remains of a chamber visible in one of its sides. The mound has been much messed about by farming, and field clearance, and it is difficult to tell what is original. The remains of the chamber are open, and not at all cared for.
Genévrier Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.153 Date Added: 16th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Aveyron (12))
Visited: Yes on 26th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Genévrier dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 4th Jul 2005. Genévrier dolmen 1, Salles-la-Source, Aveyron.
The village community of Salles-la-Source, is known to have 66 burial mounds and dolmens within its boundary. There are probably more, which makes it the richest parish in the whole of France.
But most of them are not much more than piles of stone with a chamber inside, like this one.
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Log Text: Up on the causse above Salles-la-Sources are supposed to be 66 dolmens. There is supposed to be a dolmen trail with map and information available. But I found no such thing. I couldn’t even buy a 1:25000 map of the area (which is notably right on the corner of four. But there is a lovely cascade down over a cliff edge, with a splendid pool at the bottom, and caves going back into the rock. Theres lots of that calcitic stuff that you get like those falls in Croatia. I spent quite some time here in the shade, watching the swallows building and feeding young on the cliffs.
There is a signpost towards this dolmen, but when you get nearby, there are no more signs. I found a mound nearby the road which was larger than most of the other multitudes of mounds round here, so stopped for a look. The mound is probably about 25 metres in diameter, and up to 4 metres high. There is the remains of a chamber in the centre, about 5 metres in length, 1.5 metres wide, with a nice capstone in place. it opens to the east at 085°.
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.152 Date Added: 15th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 25th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 2 submitted by ocdolmen on 9th Apr 2006. Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 2, Lot
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Log Text: After passing various other inconclusive mounds I came across the third proper dolmen I found up here near to some woods and in the nice cool shade at the junction of a couple of track. This is what I call a proper dolmen with most of its mound disappeared for use in the nearby wall no doubt and so it is standing proud on the hillside. The chamber is about 3 metres long by 1.8 m wide and is oriented at about 130°. The capstone sits nicely on top at the usual jaunty angle due to a broken side slab on the south side.
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.151 Date Added: 15th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 25th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 1 submitted by TheCaptain on 17th Jan 2018. The remains of a central chamber 3m by 1.5 m are clear with its capstone on top.
What is slightly less clear is what looks like a second chamber (below where standing) in line with the central one to the west and still with a capstone in place on fallen supports.
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Log Text: High up on top of this dry and barren hill is another mound on top of which can be seen a capstone when approaching. The remains of a central chamber 3m by 1.5 m are clear with its capstone on top. What is slightly less clear is what looked to me like a second chamber in line with the central one to the west and still with a capstone in place on fallen supports. You can see for miles and miles all around up here a place fit for a king but the flies are a dammed nuisance and put me off staying for long.
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 0
Trip No.203 Entry No.150 Date Added: 15th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 25th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen du Pech Laglayre 0 submitted by TheCaptain on 17th Jan 2018. The first dolmen I came to was nothing much more than a stone mound with a wall going over the top. But there was a collapsed chamber in the middle hence a depression and bits of capstone can still be seen.
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Log Text: Dolmens (plural) are marked on my ign map (and on the Michelin too) to the southwest of Gréalou near to the GR65 footpath so I went for a walk to have a look. The first I came to was nothing much more than a stone mound with a wall going over the top. But there was a collapsed chamber in the middle hence a depression and bits of capstone can still be seen.
Grotte de Pech-Merle
Trip No.203 Entry No.149 Date Added: 15th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 25th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Grotte de Pech-Merle submitted by thecaptain on 14th Nov 2008. The entrance area to this fantastic cave, which I would thoroughly encourage anybody to visit.
One of the oak trees here (with the white paint) has one of its roots hanging down into the cave, which can be seen looking like a hairy stalactite.
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Log Text: Superb. Not only for the prehistoric stuff, but also for the cave and its stalactites as well. There is some fantastic cave decoration in here, including pearls and a superb "spinninng top", and also some wonderful discs. Amazing.
The prehistoric stuff dates from all ages, 25,000 BC to 10,000 BC when it all got blocked off by a rockfall. The two famous spotted horses have been dated to 24,600 BC from their charcoal black. They are really fantastic, and the way that a natural rock shape has been used for one of the horses heads is incredible. But there are also mammouth, bulls, ibex, aurochs etc etc. There are also human hands in silhouette, and the famous "wounded man" with four spears in him.
Of much more recent date is a wonderful engraved bears head. not to forget the human footprints in the soft clay, from an adolescent person, which are dated to about ?????. Up near the original entrance to the cave are many bear and hyena bones which can still be seen, and what at first looks to be a hairy stalactite, which is in fact a root of one of the oak trees which is growing in the little leisure area outside the cave. this was one of my favourite places of all those I visited this year.
Custalou Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.146 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Custalou Dolmen submitted by MichelDRN on 12th Oct 2005. Custalou Dolmen France Mid-Lot (46) 610m SW from Grezes Church.
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Log Text: This is a nice looking dolmen in a field beside a farm near the village of Grèzes, although there was no obvious way in to the field to the dolmen itself. It looks quite large compared to most dolmens in this area, the capstone is unfortunately broken into three pieces, held up on two large side slabs. It has a back stone and the chamber opens to the east.
Cloup des Périès
Trip No.203 Entry No.145 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Cloup des Périès submitted by MichelDRN on 14th Oct 2005. One orthostat of the Cloup des Périès dolmen slid, together with the slabstone.
One slab partially closes the 'room'.
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Log Text: A little dolmen found down a track a kilometre or so to the south of the village of Grèzes in Lot. The dolmen has a single capstone sat on two side slabs, and is 3 metres long by 1.5 metres wide. It faces east, at 095°.
Mons dolmen 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.143 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Mons dolmen 1 submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Mons dolmen 1.
A bit of a devil to find near the village of Asier in Lot. There are several dolmens, a menhir and a couple of tumuli in the fields around here, but this was the only one I could find, without crossing fences, walls and cropped fields.
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Log Text: In the Champ de Belair, to the northwest of the village of Assier, on the opposite (northwestern) side of the railway to the previous dolmens, are supposedly 4 dolmens, 2 tumulus and a menhir to be seen. But they don’t get any easier to find. Follow the trackway along the northern side of the railway, in a northwesterly direction for about a kilometre from the station. The track gradually fades out into an overgrown grassy path, with bushes everywhere, before completely fading away into nothing. In a field to the left of the path, having passed through some dense scrub and across a wall, I eventually found the first dolmen.
A 4 metre long by 2 metres wide capstone sits on top of a bit of a wreck of a chamber, orientated at about 115°. The chamber seems to be made from a mix of slabs and dry stones, but its possible that the slabs are just crumbling, and the capstone has been held up by stones placed underneath it.
Dolmen du Bois des Boeufs
Trip No.203 Entry No.142 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Bois des Boeufs submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Bois des Boeufs dolmen, seen here in its mound amongst the flower filled woodland.
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Log Text: Blimey, how difficult can it be to find these places ? This dolmen is in the book, is on the 1:100000 map, with a name, and I have the detailed map also. Its to be found 200 metres from Garivals dolmen on a bearing of 025°, but can you walk in that direction ? No. I eventually found it after some long way round dead reckoning, and by going through some very dense bushy woodland. I wondered if I would get lost in here for ever, but it was worth it once I had found the dolmen.
It is almost completely still within its mound, with just the large 3 metre by 4 metre capstone above the surface on top of the tumulus, which has a diameter of about 20 metres. The chamber is 4 metres in length and 1.5 metres wide, and opens towards the east at about 115°, though it is difficult to get an accurate bearing, as its all below ground, with only about 40 cm depth. There are lots of insects chirrping away here, birdies tweeting and a cuckoo going at full tilt. There are cowslip type flowers and buttercups everywhere. lovely.
Garivals Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.141 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Garivals dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Garivals dolmen, near the village of Assier in Lot is much unloved.
It has not only had a wall built through it, but also a trackway which cuts through, along where this photo is taken from.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of Assier, about 1.5 kilometres along the D.92 road, there is a trackway leaving at an angle to the north, nearby what seems to be a road repair depot. A few hundred metres along this trackway can be found the Dolmen de Garivals, much unloved, fenced in and with a wall built through it. The chamber is about 3 m by 1.5 m, and a single capstone now covers only half of it. Much of its mound remains, and there is a strange sort of triangle stone on top.