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

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 dit la Pierre Fouquerée

Trip No.203  Entry No.252  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 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: This dolmen is not so easy to find as its neighbour, La Pierre Levée, but is in the middle of a field of maize to the west of the farm of Bois des Mottes near the village of Ardillières. The 3 metre by 2 metre limestone capstone sits at an angle on top of one full support stone, and several other broken stones. The chamber is very neatly rectangular, about 3 m by 2 m, and the builders of this one did a very fine job of squaring and lining up the stones.

It has recently had weedkiller applied around the stones, which reside in a little unploughed area, and is obviously relatively well looked after.

Dolmen dit la Pierre du Sacrifice (Boixe)

Trip No.203  Entry No.43  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 16th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The remains of this monument can be found about 100 metres walk into the Forêt-de-Boixe from the parking place near the Tumulus de la Boixe, and signposted. These days it is basically just a capstone of a destroyed tumulus, once similar to Boixe, and is about 4 metres in length, 2 metres wide and a metre thick. It has some very straight channels in the top, which are so straight and even that they must have been carved, rather than randomly shaped rain channels, and this is what gives the stone its name (from the 18th century).

I could see no signs of any supports, although there is a lotof loose stone about. Not too long ago, this was supposedly the largest tumulus of the many in this region, 45 metres in diameter, and 4 metres high, but was destroyed in the 19th century in order to build the road. One of the support stones to the chamber was recorded to have had a carved crook on it. An older legend surrounding the tomb concerns the "little people" who used to live in it, who were so strong that they could carry the 15 tonne blocks with their bare hands.

Dolmen dit la Peyrelevade (Beaumont)

Trip No.203  Entry No.109  Date Added: 6th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Dordogne (24))
Visited: Yes on 22nd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: What a palaver it was finding this one despite being on my map and signposted from the road. The trouble is that’s where the signposts stop and its more than a kilometre walk to the thing. There is no way I would have found this had I not spoken to a chap at the farm out doing jobs in his shed who told me where to go and even then I was close to giving up on more than one occasion.

It’s down the lane till it runs out then continue on down the track on the left. This track then runs out and had an electric fence across it (The man had warned me of the electric fence to keep the cows in). It should normally be continue on down to the bottom of the valley through the cows field and the dolmen is up on a mound to the left of the field but as I entered the field several very inquisitive and tough looking cows with big horns rushed towards me bellowing. So I did as the man suggested and skirted round the outside of the electric fence in a couple of fields with very long grass which soaked me right though. Then down another lane into the valley bottom and search for the stones. Nothing can be see at all. So I remember the bit about it being on a mound and there's two possibilities. The cows are guarding one so I climb to the top of the nearer one and eventually find the dolmen a small little thing for so much effort !

The capstone sits on top of a rectangular chamber about 2 metres in length and a metre wide which has collapsed on one side. This really is one for the enthusiast and I would never have found it without the mans directions but its surrounded by lovely orchids and even on a wet grey day like this it was nice to have been there. And it gave a great deal of satisfaction for having found this a good adventure despite all the obstacles. A real feeling of triumph ! And of course a cheery Merci to the man on the way back.

Dolmen dit la Motte-de-la-Garde

Trip No.203  Entry No.50  Date Added: 5th Apr 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 16th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: A bit further south along the trackway is a suspicious looking bit of woodland at the top of a hillock so I went to have a look. On venturing inside there is a socking great big stone mound perhaps 6 metres high and about 50 metres by 30 metres in dimensions. Walking further into the wood there are a few big stones and then Da Daaahhh ! A chamber which can be got down into. Its about 2 metres square with a massively thick crude capstone perched on top of well made side slabs hidden amongst the trees.

A fantastic find. I knew nothing of this place before I came (there’s nothing on even the ign 1:25000 map) and just followed my nose. But beware the whole of the chamber is not covered and bits of the sides are falling in. Be very careful not to fall in from above as I nearly did.

Dolmen dit La Maison du Loup

Trip No.205  Entry No.24  Date Added: 19th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Limousin:Corrèze (19))
Visited: Yes on 1st Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: About a kilometre from the village of Espartignac, this dolmen can be found along a signposted track from the village square near to the Bar Le Dolmen. It is found in thick woodland on the end of a defended headland overlooking the Vézère river, and is at the top of a cliff edge. The dolmen is in part made from natural rocks, with a couple of sideslabs and a capstone (now broken into two pieces) resting on a rocky outcrop. The capstone is about 3 metres by 2 metres, and sits about 2 metres above the floor of the chamber.

The headland has been fortified for many hundreds of years, perhaps even thousands. But what can be seen today, with a Motte surrounded by another flat and defended area, dates to post Roman times. There are also double ditches and banks at the south to defend from the landward side of the headland not surrounded by the river. This place is at the site of an important ford across the Vézère river, on the important route from northern France to the Mediterranean.

Dolmen dit Gravier de Gargantua 2

Trip No.202  Entry No.86  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Normandie:Eure (27))
Visited: Couldn't find on 3rd May 2005

Log Text: Despite a good look around I could find no evidence of either of these. Why oh why do these villages in Normandy not look after and promote these sites ? Not even a map of the area in the village which makes these sites in Eure even more difficult to find than those in the rest of Normandy.

Dolmen dit Gravier de Gargantua 1

Trip No.202  Entry No.85  Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Normandie:Eure (27))
Visited: Couldn't find on 3rd May 2005

Log Text: Despite a good look around I could find no evidence of either of these. Why oh why do these villages in Normandy not look after and promote these sites ? Not even a map of the area in the village which makes these sites in Eure even more difficult to find than those in the rest of Normandy.

Dolmen dit des Pendus 3

Trip No.203  Entry No.126  Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Couldn't find on 23rd May 2005

Log Text: After lots of trying from two separate start points I still could not find this one. Too many walls fences and thick hedges in the way and too much scrub to see through to see exactly where it is. The French Air Force is playing around above and having fun though.

Dolmen dit des Pendus 1

Trip No.203  Entry No.126  Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Couldn't find on 23rd May 2005

Log Text: After lots of trying from two separate start points I still could not find this one. Too many walls fences and thick hedges in the way and too much scrub to see through to see exactly where it is. The French Air Force is playing around above and having fun though.

Dolmen dit de Pajot

Trip No.203  Entry No.193  Date Added: 20th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 30th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This dolmen can be easily found in a field beside the D24 road south of the village of Limogne-en-Quercy. Of typical size for round here, the chamber is 3.5 metres in length, and 1.5 metres wide, and is covered by a capstone which is larger in all dimensions. The northeast side has collapsed slightly, giving a good lean.

The dolmen is used for storing of some ancient farming equipment (ploughs and suchlike) which look to have been in there for many decades.

Dolmen dit de la Grandière

Trip No.202  Entry No.54  Date Added: 28th Mar 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Normandie:Orne (61))
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Not easy to find in an area of small fields and lots of natural rocky outcrops and field clearance cairns just to the northwest of the village. However there was a local man in his garden who I asked and he willingly lead me to it over a couple of fields to the south of the farmhouse. It looked a bit like another natural rocky outcrop to me but he assured me it was the dolmen as he wasn’t allowed to touch it and has to leave an area around it clear of any farming.

As stated it looks a lot like a natural outcrop to me but there is a large rounded stone balanced on the top of a few smaller pieces. I guess that in the years gone by the people were perhaps making do with nature’s provision. A low key village dolmen rather than a big substantial monument.

Dolmen dit Collets de Collioure

Trip No.200  Entry No.52  Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Pyrénées-Orientales 66)
Visited: Yes on 26th Jun 2000. My rating: Access 3

Log Text: Weekend to explore Collioure area. Drive coast road Port Vendres, Banyuls-sur-Mer, Cerbere, into Spain, Portbou, Platja de Garbet to Figueras. Beautiful but slow. Signs to dolmens. Dali Museum brilliant. Back to Collioure through mountains, Argeles-sur-Mer. Look for the dolmens near Collioure, Fairly long walk up past the Chateau de Valmy, but only found one.

Dolmen des Varennes de Cumeray 1

Trip No.204  Entry No.83  Date Added: 16th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Maine-et-Loire 49)
Visited: Yes on 15th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: A hundred or so metres southeast of the menhir is this difficult to find dolmen, buried deep in the undergrowth. Although the capstone has completely collapsed and broken into several pieces, its easy to see that there was a rectangular chamber, about 3.5m by 2 metres with an entrance to the east. It could do with a bit of clearance work around it.

Dolmen des Sept Chemins

Trip No.204  Entry No.141  Date Added: 15th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Deux-Sèvres (79))
Visited: Yes on 19th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: La Pierre Levée, Sept Chemins dolmen can be found not far from the Bougon necropolis, which is just a couple of kilometres away. The dolmen, just to the south of the Sept Chemins crossroads, has been recently restored, and sits in a little area with parking and notice board. The chamber is about 3m by 2m, with two side slabs and a backstone covered by a nice capstone. The entrance is completely open to the full 2 metres width, and faces towards the southeast. A couple of smaller slabs mark out the short entry corridor. The dolmen sits in the remains of a 9 metre diameter circular cairn.

This dolmen is becoming much more like those of southern France rather than the large complex dolmens of a bit further north. The crumbling limestone from which it is made is also more like what is to be found further south.

Dolmen des Sanguinades

Trip No.203  Entry No.198  Date Added: 20th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 31st May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just off of the GR.36 footpath a couple of kilometres to the southeast of Varaire, in a field full of orchids can be found this little broken dolmen, which has the remains of its capstone fallen off the front of its side slabs.

Dolmen des Pierres Folles du Plessis

Trip No.203  Entry No.257  Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This possible Angevine dolmen resides in a little wooded picnic area beside the lane to the south of the busy D.949 road to the east of Avrillé. The chamber would have been 5 metres long by 2 metres wide, but the eastern end has collapsed and broken badly, so its difficult to tell. The remains of a 4 metre by 3 metre capstone lie fallen into the chamber, although it is still supported at the western end. The mass of jumbled stone at the east end has obviously been recently broken further, as there are very fresh breakage edges, and drill marksd to be seen, or else it is possible that some new stone has been dumped here.

The nice surprise nature find at this place was a massive, lovely patterned moth sleeping at the bottom of one of the stones.

Dolmen des Louettes

Trip No.204  Entry No.289  Date Added: 11th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Loire-et-Cher (41))
Visited: Couldn't find on 9th Aug 2005

Log Text: Marked on my ign 1:100,000 map, but I could find no sign of this dolmen on the ground. What I did find was lots of fishing places along the banks of the pleasant Loir river near to a lovely old papermill. I asked a few people if they knew of any dolmens around here and none of them had any idea what I was talking about. The best I got offered was the Donjon de Fréteval as ancient stones !

Since my visit, and with the help of geoportail and its 1:25,000 ign maps, I have now been able to identify not only one, but two dolmens in this region, which are on the northern river banks, just to the south of the large road junction, and should be fairly easily accessible. I was even looking in the right woodland for the first. So close yet so far...

Dolmen des Lacs 3

Trip No.205  Entry No.113  Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: From the intriguing and lovely little historic village of Minerve, take the D.147 road to the northwest, passing over the bridge and past the big car parks. The dolmens are signposted from here. The road zig-zags up the hillside for a kilometre or two and then levels out a bit. Continue for three or four kilometres, past the water reservoir, and eventually you will find a dirt track on the left, with a large stone with the word dolmens painted on it. Park somewhere, then follow this track on foot for a couple of hundred metres. The track then splits, take the right track upwards for a about four hundred metres, passing dolmen 2 on the left, and about a hundred metres further, after crossing a little ravine, you will find dolmen number 3.

It is smaller than dolmen 2, with a single capstone sat on top of two side slabs and a backstone, forming a chamber 2 metres long by 1,5 metres in width, again open to the southeast at 145°. The dolmen sits within a round mass of stones, but has no discernible entry passageway or encircling ring of stones. Dolmens 2 and 3 can be seen from each other. There are possibly the remains of several more wrecked dolmens within this area.

Dolmen des Lacs 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.112  Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: From the intriguing and lovely little historic village of Minerve, take the D.147 road to the northwest, passing over the bridge and past the big car parks. The dolmens are signposted from here. The road zig-zags up the hillside for a kilometre or two and then levels out a bit. Continue for three or four kilometres, past the water reservoir, and eventually you will find a dirt track on the left, with a large stone with the word dolmens painted on it. Park somewhere, then follow this track on foot for a couple of hundred metres.

The track then splits, take the right track upwards for about three hundred more hundred metres, where to the left of the path the remains of this dolmen are visible. It sits in a mound of loose stone, about 18 metres in diameter, with some raised larger stones, set radially to the chamber, forming a partial circle around it near to the edge. The dolmen is in the centre, with a single capstone sat on top of a large back stone, and several side stones. The chamber is high enough to stand in, and about 4 m long by 2 m wide. Beyond this is an entry passageway, making a total length of about 7 metres, lined with slabs at its sides, and opening to the southeast on 165°.

The views from up here, over the plain of the Aude river are spectacular. I would imagine that on a clear day, the Mediterranean sea and the sacred mountain of Canigou are clearly visible.