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Belinac Menhir
Trip No.203 Entry No.139 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Belinac Menhir submitted by MichelDRN on 20th Oct 2005. I suggest to rename Livernon Menhir as Belinac Menhir, its local name.
From Livernon (Lot, 46), heading SE towards the road joining Cahors and Figeac towns, a sign indicates Belinac Menhir on the right side. 600 meters and this outstanding monolith appears.
It is 3.50 meters high, 0.40 m wide, and large from 1.50m (base), to 1.90 m (middle) and 1.00m (top).
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Log Text: Three and a half metres tall, but only about 30 cm thick, this menhir can be found signposted to the southeast from the village of Livernon. It leans at a slight angle and has some strange markings on it. There are several horizontal lines, and many weird circular shapes. Signposted just off the large road up a small track, there is a little parking area nearby.
Livernon quarry
Trip No.203 Entry No.138 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Access 4
Livernon quarry submitted by MichelDRN on 14th Oct 2005. Building two dolmens is ongoing.These two cap stones are still waiting for transportation to their -for ever unknown- destination.
This site is located 500 m South from the Pierre Martine, NW of Livernon.
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Log Text: Between the car parking area and the Pierre Martine is an outcropping of limestone pavement. This has in the past been used to extract slabs, which have been removed and used for building dolmens.
Rougié Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.137 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
Rougié dolmen submitted by MichelDRN on 14th Oct 2005. The Rougié dolmen is located 2.750m NW from Livernon church, 250m NW from the 'Pierre Martine' dolmen, in open field.
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Log Text: Just a hundred metres or two behind the Pierre Martine, beyond the fence and up the slope into the adjacent field, can be found this dolmen sitting in a field full of thistles, surrounded by brambles and scrub. Despite the many people who visit the Pierre Martine, hardly anybody knows of the existence of this dolmen. It is about 3 metres long with a capstone broken into two pieces, and faces 085°
La Pierre Martine
Trip No.203 Entry No.136 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 4
La Pierre Martine submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Oct 2005. La Pierre Martine is the largest of the many hundreds of dolmens to be found in the departement of Lot.
The chamber and its capstone is seven metres long, but unfortunately now broken into two pieces.
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Log Text: Well, I had to come here, didn’t I. It is signposted from the main road, and places all around, to the northwest of the village of Livernon. It has its own little parking area, and the dolmen is found about 200 metres walk away across the fields and an intriguing limestone pavement.
This is the biggest dolmen in the departement of Lot, the capstone being 7 metres in length and 2 metres wide, held up on just two, equally long sideslabs, helped out these days by two concrete pillars, one at each end. The capstone is now broken in two pieces, and before it broke, it used to rock on top of its supports with just the gentlest of persuasion. The main chamber is at the eastern end of the monument, while at the western end there is a blocking stone and what seems to be a side entry from the south. The chamber is aligned eastwards on 093°.
Bouyé Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.133 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
Bouyé dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. To the southeast of Gramat, near the hamlet of Bouyé can be seen the remains of this double dolmen and its little mound.
I could not get into the field for a close look, and thick hedges and trees made making out what is there, and getting photographs difficult.
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Log Text: To the southeast of Gramat, a few hundred metres along the GR.6 south from the hamlet of Bouyé can be seen the remains of this double dolmen and its little mound. Its just to the side of the track, opposite a home with a swimming pool being installed. I could not get into the field for a close look, and thick hedges and trees made making out what is there, and getting photographs difficult. I could however make out that there were some large slabs of stone at the eastern end of a long mound.
Champ des Courses Tumulus
Trip No.203 Entry No.132 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5
Champ des Courses Tumulus submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. To the west of the town of Gramat, along the D.15 road just before the hippodrome can be found this enormous tumulus.
It’s a big one, perhaps 50 metres in diameter, and 12 metres high, and is in a swampy area beside a fishing lake, which is surprising for round here as most of the area is so arid. It must be an area of springs above an impermeable layer of rock.
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Log Text: To the west of the town of Gramat, along the D.15 road just before the hippodrome can be found this enormous tumulus. It’s a big one, perhaps 50 metres in diameter, and 12 metres high, and is in a swampy area beside a fishing lake, which is surprising for round here as most of the area is so dry. It must be an area of springs above an impermeable layer of rock.
There are a couple of limestone blocks visible at the top, and one or two more large slabs visible at places around the outside. Who knows what may be within ? But even here, somebody has decided that they have to drive their 4WD vehicle over the top of it.
Dolmen du Champ de Monsieur
Trip No.203 Entry No.128 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Champ de Monsieur submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. A nice double dolmen which can be found in woodland to the northwest of the village of Padirac, in Lot.
This is the entry to the western of the two dolmen chambers.
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Log Text: Try as I might, from the place that looks to be the nearest approach to this dolmen by road, I could not get a way through into the right bit of woodland to visit this double dolmen. There is much dense woodland here, and many big new fences. They obviously dont want people (or sheep and deer) getting in and out of here.
I had another go at finding this one from the west this time but it was still a bugger to find although success in the end after climbing a couple of walls. Getting back to the lane afterwards was rather easier !
It’s a double chambered dolmen still sitting on a little mound well hidden by trees. The smaller chamber is about 2 m by 1 m and faces westish. The larger chamber which adjoins the small chamber opens at the opposite end and towards the southeast. The rear capstone for this chamber, which has two, sits on top of the capstone of the smaller one. This was a lovely find.
Dolmen des Calcas
Trip No.203 Entry No.127 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen des Calcas submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen can be found just beside a track to the southwest of Padirac in Lot.
Right at the edge of a field, it’s a basic rectangular chamber about 2.5 by 1.5 metres with no capstone.
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Log Text: After what had started out a good day was turning to failure I needed to find this one. Just beside a track at the edge of a field it’s a basic rectangular chamber about 2.5 by 1.5 metres with no capstone.
While sitting writing my notes there was all sorts of jangling noises going on which turned out to be bells on lots of young sheep gambolling around in the next field. Lovely.
Gouffre de Padirac
Trip No.203 Entry No.125 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Access 5
Gouffre de Padirac submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Massive hole in the ground, I think the largest in Europe, through which some strange winds can blow.
Up until the last century, people thought this was the entrance to hell.
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Log Text: Blimey it’s a big hole. Gaping Ghyll eat your heart out. I think this is the biggest natural hole in Europe. Its massive. No wonder the people were scared of it as being the way to hell until only last century.
Dolmen d'Escurettes
Trip No.203 Entry No.123 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen d'Escurettes submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Hard to find dolmen in a hedge near Padirac, disguised as a large heap of stones and not helped by the fact that the thing is still mostly within its mound.
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Log Text: I couldn’t find this dolmen originally, and wondered whether it had been destroyed, as the fields here have recently been substantially re-arranged. I wondered whether I had found the sad remains in one of the hedges, and was about to give up, before I looked through a gap in the hedge. On the other side of the hedge I found the dolmen, disguised as a large heap of stones by the fact that the thing is still mostly within its mound. A capstone sits on two upright sideslabs, sticking out of the mound towards a caravan park on what is probably private land.
Gisement de Fieux
Trip No.203 Entry No.122 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Gisement de Fieux submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Although signposted, and with a car parking area, I was not sure what this was while I was visiting, except for a big hole in the ground, and some little holes also, with excavations going on.
I later found out that it is an ancient settlement and encampment for mammoth hunters.
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Log Text: Excavations are being done here, and planning permission for a visitor centre with shop and toilets applied for. I was not sure what is here while I was visiting, except for a big hole in the ground, and some little holes also. I later find out that it is an ancient settlement and encampment for mammoth hunters.
Dolmen des Barrières 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.121 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen des Barrières 2 submitted by thecaptain on 7th Jan 2006. The remains of this nice freestanding dolmen are to be found in a little tended garden like area near to the Barrières farm, to the northwest of the village of Miers in Lot.
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Log Text: This nice freestanding dolmen is to be found in a little tended garden like area near to the Barrières farm. There are no signs of a mound around it, no doubt all the stone having been used in construction of the farm and its walls. It was probably once similar to the nearby Pierre Levée, but is now just a 3 metres square capstone doing a balancing act on one side and one end stone from the rectangular chamber.
Dolmen dit la Pierre Levée (Lecusses)
Trip No.203 Entry No.120 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen dit la Pierre Levée (Lecusses) submitted by thecaptain on 7th Jan 2006. A nice dolmen still within its large mound which can be found to the northwest of the Barrières farm, to the northwest of the village of Miers, in Lot.
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Log Text: Another beauty, this time almost completely still within its mound, which is about 25 metres in diameter and a couple of metres high. The single chamber is about 3 m by 1.5 metres, and covered by what must have been a shaped capstone, about 4 by 2.5 metres and very rectangular. This one is a bit of a long walk from anywhere, but it is signposted.
Dolmen du Pech Cayrou
Trip No.203 Entry No.119 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Pech Cayrou submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen's a bit of a walk up a track and then into a field, to the east of the small road between Miers and Floirac, but well worth the effort.
Apart from the orchids everywhere, there were the most amazing and vividly coloured butterflies all around this dolmen, and some fantastic views over the Dordogne river valley to the north.
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Log Text: This one's a bit of a walk up a track and then into a field, but well worth the small effort. Its almost totally enclosed within its mound, with just the large 4 by 3 metres capstone showing above the ground, except to one side where the chamber has been dug into. Most of the chamber is obscured by a large sideslab which has fallen into it, so its difficult to make anything out here.
Apart from the by now normal orchids everywhere, there are the most amazing and vividly coloured butterflies all around this dolmen, and some fantastic views over the Dordogne river valley to the north. There is another mound close by, but thickly covered by bushes and scrub. I could see no obvious remains of a dolmen there, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was one.
Dolmen de Ressegayre
Trip No.203 Entry No.118 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen de Ressegayre submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. A slightly bigger than average dolmen for round here, and still mostly within its mound, this one can be found in a bit of scrubland just off the road between Miers and Floirac, although it took a fair bit of looking.
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Log Text: A slightly bigger than average dolmen for round here, and still mostly within its mound, this one can be found in a bit of scrubland just off the road between Miers and Floirac, although it took a fair bit of looking.
The capstone is about 3.5 by 3 metres, and is sitting only on some fairly basic supports, just off the ground. I cannot make out the chamber below, or its inside the mound still.
Its lovely here, with insects and birds chirrping and tweeting, with a cuckoo going at full tilt, and loads of wildflowers everywhere. I have just seen two sorts of orchid which I haven't seen before. From some research after my visit, I learn that this is perhaps not a dolmen, but a capstone in the process of being extracted and moved. However, if this is the case, why the mound ?
Dolmen de Candare 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.116 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen de Candare 1 submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Tiny little dolmen sitting on the remains of its mound, under a bush just to the south of the road between Miers and Floirac.
Not far from this dolmen is a peculiar, almost spherical black stone which looks most out of place, although I dont seem to have a photograph of it.
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Log Text: Tiny little dolmen sitting on the remains of its mound, under a bush just to the south of the road between Miers and Floirac. It has a rectangular chamber, less than 2 by 1 metre in size, with the entrance facing 060°. Not far from this dolmen is a peculiar, almost spherical black stone which looks most out of place.
Dolmen dit Peyrebru (Miers)
Trip No.203 Entry No.115 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen dit Peyrebru (Miers) submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen is a little beauty, about 50 metres up a track from the road between Miers and Floirac.
Still sitting on top of a fairly large oval mound.
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Log Text: This one's a little beauty, about 50 metres up a track from the road between Miers and Floirac. Still sitting on top of its mound, 18 metres in diameter, it has a 2.5 by 1.5 metres chamber with a single slanted capstone. The chamber opens eastwards on an alignment of 118°.
Le chaos de Roquebert
Trip No.203 Entry No.114 Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Rock Outcrop
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 22nd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Le chaos de Roquebert submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Jan 2011. Les Trois Cromlechs.
I wasn't quite sure what to make of these. There are three massive stones (probably up to 7 metres high) within about 20 metres of each other looking for all the world like they have been stood upright surrounded by lots and lots of other stones.
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Log Text: Not quite sure what to make of these. There are three massive stones (probably up to 7 metres high) within about 20 metres of each other looking for all the world like they have been stood upright surrounded by lots and lots of other stones. There is a signpost saying something about the prehistoric stones and area. I have no idea what they are and suspect that they might be natural a bit like the top of a tor but it doesn’t all look fully natural and I suspect there has been some rearrangement of the rocks around them by man in the distant past.
But in the thick forest getting pictures was not easy especially in the rain and by now I was getting very anxious about getting down off the top of this hill with the campervan in one piece. Eventually I do get back to a tarmac bit of road and its not long before I pass a parking area with footpath signs pointing off in various directions the “Circuit des Dolmens” being one of them. It gives the impression there's lots more historic stuff up here including an ancient fort of some kind.
La Bertrandoune Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.113 Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 22nd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
La Bertrandoune dolmen submitted by TheCaptain on 18th Jan 2011. This is a big single chambered dolmen about 3 m by 2 m a single capstone sitting on top of three uprights with still a good amount of its mound surrounding it.
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Log Text: Further still round the “Circuit des Dolmens” after driving for miles along the rough stone mountain tracks and bashing my way through the undergrowth after several signposted things to see including several of the little huts they have round here and I come to this dolmen. By now I have realised that this “Circuit des Dolmens” is a walking circuit and not for driving round let alone doing it in reverse in a campervan and am getting desperate to get out of these woods and onto a proper road again which rather spoiled the enjoyment of what would be a lovely afternoons walk !.
This is a big single chambered dolmen about 3 m by 2 m a single capstone sitting on top of three uprights with still a good amount of its mound surrounding it. But there's no time to enjoy it I want to get down !
Les Trois Pierres (Les Junies)
Trip No.203 Entry No.112 Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 22nd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Les Trois Pierres (Les Junies) submitted by theCaptain on 19th Jan 2011. Remains of a lovely dolmen in a woodland setting.
There are remains of something much more, possibly once a double chamber and entry passage.
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Log Text: What the hell am I doing here in the campervan ? It’s a road on my map and it starts off as a road with a “circuit des dolmens” sign so of course I followed it. It was very steep to start and lots of hairpin bends so was using first and secod gear only. It has to get better I thought. It levelled out a bit but then the tarmac disappeared. And the trees closed in. And the gravel surface gave way to bare rock and grass and puddles. Nowhere to turn round and go back so thought I’d continue past a bemused looking lady outside her house but still following the “Circuit des Dolmens” signs but in reverse. Of course its raining and misty up here in the clouds.
Ah a sign to “Les Trois Pierres”. This is a nice dolmen in a woodland setting lots of little oak trees growing in the rough limestone rock. I was by now hoping for three ! Its about 4 metres long by 1.5 m wide and high with a single capstone remaining in place. The chamber was obviously much longer once and there are traces of its mound.