Grand dolmen de Trainel

Trip No.204  Entry No.225  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: There are two dolmens here in the Traînel forest, signposted a couple of kilometres to the west of Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes. Where the road bends, park in the forest car park and walk for a kilometre to the north along the forest track, and the dolmens are signposted from here.

The Grand Dolmen is a bit of a mess of large stones with the remains of a bit of a mound around them, built into the hillside in the forest. There is one obvious capstone of dimensions 2.5 m by 1.5 m sitting on top of some support stones, with a 2 metres long by by 1 metre wide chamber underneath. Besides it is the remains of what was another small chamber and it is possible that there were once more. It's all a bit of a muddle though, not helped by the badgers that have made it their home.

Petit dolmen de Trainel

Trip No.204  Entry No.226  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: About 15 metres to the north of the Grand Dolmen along the slope of the hill, and perhaps in what was once the same mound can be found the Petit Dolmen. It doesn’t look much more than a medium sized rock sat on the hillside, but closer inspection shows there to be a 1 metre by 0.5 metre slab sided cist underneath the 1.7 m by 1 m capstone.

Without the signpost right beside it, I very much doubt that I would have found this, although it is right beside the path. There are hundreds of better more dolmenic looking rocks in this forest ! I cant believe I spent the best part of three days and 700 km of driving to get here ! Lets hope for better to come, but I wont hold my breath. Dammit, now its raining. Lots of deer about though, and just sitting writing this I can sense them watching me from behind the trees.

Lancy Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.227  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Now this is more like it. In the Foret-de-Lancy, a couple of kilometres to the southeast of Saint-Maurice-aux-Riches-Hommes can be found this nice looking little dolmen. It is signposted from the road through the forest about 700 metres south of the parking place at the track to the Traînel dolmens, and is a 700 metre walk from the road along a forest track.

The dolmen is in a little clearing, 10 metres from the track, and easy to find. The forst thing you see is the obvious dolmen with a 3 m by 2 m capstone sat on top of two side supports, about 1.2 metres off the ground. Closer inspection shows there to be a backstone, and a fallen stone at the large front opening. Just to the southeast is another large stone standing upright, and there are plenty of other large stones laying about nearby. There would appear to be the remains of a round mound within which the dolmen was once covered.

I wonder whether there was a second chamber at some point, or perhaps a circle of stones around the mound. This is a very pleasant spot. Strangely, there are many hand prints painted on some of the stones.

Lancy Polissoir

Trip No.204  Entry No.228  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: About 350 metres to the north of the D.110 road through Lancy Forest can be found this polissoir stone. Park at the Pavillon-de-Lancy picnic site, and the stone can be found down the track along the edge of the forest from there. Luckily it is signposted, as without them I would never have found it.

As polissoir stones that I have seen go, this is not very impressive. Its a nice stone in the forest, about 2.5m by 2.5 m laying on the ground, with a couple of polishing grooves and a basin which can be determined. The basin is actually very nicely polished. This seems a slightly strange place for a polissoir stone, as I can see no natural source for any water nearby, although the stone itself has a large hollow which could have been used as a reservoir. And it is raining !

Pierre à l'Eau

Trip No.204  Entry No.229  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This is much more like it, a lovely polissoir stone, with its own source of water in the form of a couple of deep basins which I assume are natural, and it is not far from a little stream. The stone is sort of triangular, about 2 m by 1.5 m, and has five well worn grooves and a couple of flat basins for polishing. It is found from the D.110 road through Lancy Forest, south of the Pavillon-de-Lancy. There is a parking place and signposted walk of 650 metres from there to the east.

Polissoir avec Cuvette

Trip No.204  Entry No.230  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: About 50 metres from the Pierre à l'Eau, and thankfully signposted through the tricky forest, can be found a second polissoir stone. This one has a large water filled basin, and as far as I can make out, only two two large flattish basin like polishing areas. I guess this stone was used for the flat faces, while stone 1 was used for the edges.

Polissoir avec Plage

Trip No.204  Entry No.231  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 7th Aug 2011. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: A further 40 metres downstream from the second polissoir stone, is found a third. This one is a smaller stone, about 2 metres by 0.5 metres, and a nice smoothed crescent shape, hence the name. As well as the entire polishing "beach", there are at least three bowls for polishing, some of which are quite deep, and about 20 cm in diameter. This is quite some industrial centre, isn't it!

As I write this I am being watched by at least two deer, no more than 40 metres away from me. Oh well, better get back.

Polissoir des Roches

Trip No.204  Entry No.232  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005

Log Text: The Polissoir des Roches, or Courgenay polissoir should be found in the forest to the south of the village of Courgenay, up on the hills. There are no signposts to be seen to it, so I am pretty sure that I will not be able to find it on my own.

Dolmen de Bercenay

Trip No.204  Entry No.233  Date Added: 4th Sep 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005

Log Text: Just off the edge of my map, the Pierre au Laurin, or Pierre Couverte, has no obvious signposts to it, and I could see no obvious signs of any dolmen in the locality, so I didn’t really look.

Which is a shame really, as I see later there are three good dolmens to be found here, much better than anything I did find!

La Pierre Pointue (Montacher)

Trip No.204  Entry No.234  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bourgogne:Yonne (89))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: A few kilometres to the south of the village of Montacher-Villegardin via windy unmarked roads, and about a kilometre walk to the west of the little road which runs south from the village, along farm tracks and you can find this menhir in a field. It is about 2.3 metres tall, and very pointed as its name would suggest. Around the stone are lots more rocks, whether broken from it or field clearance I cannot say.

Menhir de Coinche

Trip No.204  Entry No.235  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: This menhir is in the middle of a cropped field just behind the farmhouse, down a track and then turn left near the wood. It is not normally possible to get right to it, but I was proudly shown the stone by the wife of the farmer. The field is full of sunflowers this year, and the stone was not visible from the road, and proved difficult to find, even for the farmers wife and daughter.

It stands in a little area left uncropped for its protection. It is a lovely multicoloured puddingstone menhir, perhaps 1.5 metres high and at least as wide, and about 0.5 m thick. Near to the top there is a hole which goes right through the stone. It is not known whether this is a much more recent modification to the stone or original. Beside the stone there are two smaller stones, one each side. I was told that it is thought that these two stones were used to place lamps on when ceremonies were carried out here.

Coinche polissoir

Trip No.204  Entry No.236  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 12th Feb 2007. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: About 80 metres from the menhir are several large rocks laying flat in the next field. One of these stones has three lovely polishing grooves in the top at one side, each about 50 cm long, and a big cuvette basin for polishing the flat sides. As for the menhir, these stones are in a cropped field, and not normally possible to find, but I was again taken to them. There were more polishing grooves elsewhere on the rocks, but these have been broken off when the rocks were partly broken several hundred years ago to build houses. Somebody has a house with polishing grooves incorporated in their walls !

It is now all very dry land round here, but in the past this was an area of swamp and marsh, which would have provided the water necessary for the polishing task. The ancient people didn't live here, but had a village a bit further down the valley.
Also found near here in the past was a portable polishing stone, which is now in the safe keeping of a museum somewhere.

These two stones would have been impossible for me to find and see had it not been for the kindness and help of the farmers wife. And although she spoke quick French, I gained a lot of information from her that I would otherwise never have been able to find out. She is obviously very proud to have these stones on her land, and interested in them. Many thanks to her.

Pierre de Minuit Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.237  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 18th Feb 2007. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: I wouldn't have bothered with this one, but was told I should visit it by the farmers wife at Coinche. And my thanks must again go to her. It is a wonderful stone, the tallest menhir in the Departement of Loiret. It is almost 5 metres tall, up to 2 metres wide and very variable in thickness. The stone is half a sort of holed and pitted sarsen like stone, on the west face, while the east face is a puddingstone conglomerate of flints and gravel. Most lovely. Much of the puddingstone face is crumbling, and now makes wonderful shapes, with bits sticking out here and there.

Where the puddingstone layer is thin, there are a couple of holes right through the menhir. It is said that women wanting to become mothers should sit in the chair at the top of the stone. Fantastic. This stone can be found a kilometre or so west of the village, behind the Chaise farmhouse, and can easily be seen from the road.

Menhir dit la Grande Roche

Trip No.204  Entry No.238  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 5th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: To the west of the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais can be found this 2.5 metre tall menhir in a field beside the small road to Mérinville. It is in the middle of a freshly ploughed field, so I didn't go right up to it, but it is only 50 metres from the roadside.

Mérinville Polissoir

Trip No.204  Entry No.239  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005

Log Text: The Mérinville Polissoir is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. However, I am not exactly sure where to find it, and it is now pouring with rain, so I am not going to go for a long walk now, especially as it is getting late and starting to get dark. There is no sign to it, so I will for now leave it.

Polissoir des Davaux

Trip No.204  Entry No.240  Date Added: 5th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005

Log Text: At Pers-en-Gâtinais there is another polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this. Perhaps tomorrow.

Menhir du Bois de Forville

Trip No.204  Entry No.241  Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 5th Aug 2005

Log Text: To the south of Pers-en-Gâtinais there is a menhir and nearby polissoir stone marked on my map, but I could find no obvious sign of this.

Monte à Peine menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.242  Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Take Rue du Menhir east from the village of Pers-en-Gâtinais, and just after the first road junction the road bears round to the right. The menhir is right beside the road, but almost lost in bushes and undergrowth. It's just over 2 metres tall, and is a lump of sarsen type stone.

Mérinville Polissoir

Trip No.204  Entry No.243  Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir Country: France (Centre:Loiret (45))
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005

Log Text: Today I went back for a proper look for the Mérinville Polissoir, which is another stone the farmers wife at Coinche said I should go to see. I walked a lot down the forest track near to where it is marked on my map, but there was no chance of finding it without knowing exactly where to look. There is lots of marsh and ponds in the forest which doesn't help in trying to find anything. After quite some time going to look at any rock I can see, I decide its time to give up ! Shame.

La Pierre Clouée (Nanteau)

Trip No.204  Entry No.244  Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Yes on 6th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This is a 4.5 metre tall menhir which can be found in a field south of the village of Villemarechal. Its near enough a kilometres walk from the roadside, but can easily be seen from there. It has been ploughed very close to, and in fact is suffering from various collisions with agricultural machinery. There are also several nails hammered into it. It also suffers from many overhead powerlines buzzing away, but it is still here after thousands of years, proudly overlooking the local landscape.

La Pierre Clouée translates roughly as the nailed stone - and it is an old folk tale that if one circles the stone seven times saying magic words, and then nails a bouquet to the stone, true love will be found.