Le Pont du Gard

Trip No.205  Entry No.198  Date Added: 26th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 21st Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5

Log Text: Rive Gauche or Rive Droite? I went to the first one signed, Rive Droite. Probably better to have gone to the other side as that’s where all the information is. The Rive Droite side all got washed away in a storm on the 9th September 2002, when the river rose over 29 metres. They have pictures. Incredible.

What a lovely place. Fantastic bridge (used for over 500 years to supply water to the city of Nimes), lovely river and some splendid walks round signed footpaths which take you to various viewpoints and other bits of the ancient aqueduct system. Yes, you could spend ages here walking around, visiting the various museums etc (I didn't). Two and a half hours disappeared in no time and I was being quick. I'd best buy a book of pictures. Beautiful colours. Blue sky, golden bridge, green forested banks, shimmering green water and nearly white rocks.

Beautiful.

Abri de la Salpetriere

Trip No.205  Entry No.197  Date Added: 26th Nov 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 21st Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Beside the river near to the Pont du Gard is a big cliff shelter, which has a sign on it saying it was used as a dwelling in the age of reindeer. Excavations were going on within, and it was all fenced off.

Pierre Plantée (Congénies)

Trip No.205  Entry No.195  Date Added: 26th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 21st Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Drive north from Aubais towards Congénies for about 1.5 km, and at the bend in the road there is a stoney track which heads off to the east. Take this track along the ridge for about 400 metres, and at a major junction of tracks, on the left, can be seen this menhir.

The stone is about 2.3 metres tall, 1.5 m wide at the base and 40cm thick, standing in amongst some very prickly undergrowth. On both faces are several carvings and engravings, from ancient to more modern graffitti. Amongst the ancient are several cupules and some crosses. There are also symbols which resemble letters or Greek symbols. A little offering of flowers had been placed into a crack in the stone when I visited, so obviously somebody still cares for this ancient stone.

Colline de Moulin Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.194  Date Added: 26th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 21st Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: From the cemetary to the south of Aubais, walk southwest up the little track to the ancient windmill, and after about 800 metres you arrive at the top of this windy little hill. Here, about 50 metres from the old windmill, has been re-erected the menhir, mended from several parts and mounted on a little plinth. It is only about 1.5 metres high, but has several legends associated with it. There are three circular cupules to be seen in the southern face.

Carrières Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.190  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: Just outside the little town of Viols-le-Fort, to the west, take the road south towards the quarry. After 300 m the road either enters the quarry or goes around to the left. Park here. In the woods just to the right, beyond an old disused little quarry can be found the remains of this dolmen, with its massive backslab giving its position away. It is in a large mound of stones, and got lots of rubbish strewn about all over it.

The massive chamber is about 4 metres square, and apart from the 6 metre by 3 metre high backslab, is made using drystone vaulting. There seems to be an anti-chamber, 2m by 2m before an entry passageway opening west at about 250°, bu it is a bit of a mess at this end. There appears to be a ring of large slabs around the outside. Apart from all the junk, this would be a pretty impressive monument, and would be a prime contender for some sort of restoration.

La Draille Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.189  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Just to the north of the little town of Viols-le-Fort, take the little road towards Cazarils, and park by a little clearing in the wood after about 1.5 km, not quite at the top of the hill. Here there is a footpath into the woods, well marked with blue markers. Follow this zig-zag path for about 300 metres and you soon find the nice little Cazarils tombe ovale 1, with a bit further on the second one. At this point the blue paint marker points have become very faint, and are very hard to follow, and the path could go anywhere in this scrub. Take a track to the right, and after about 150 metres of zig zagging about through the scrub and over difficult loose stone you should reach this dolmen. Watch out in particular for a large pot hole before you get there, it looks to be very deep.

The dolmen is contained within a large mound of stones with a drystone wall built over the top of it. The chamber still has a capstone but is drystone walled, about 5m long by 2 m wide. It has a very long entrance passageway which is slab lined, and about 7 metres in length, leading off towards the south west at about 235° again. This number keeps cropping up around these parts.

Cazarils tombe ovale 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.188  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: About 50 metres further round on the footpath from Cazarils tombe ovale 1, is found this second oval tomb, but it is hiding in the bushes a bit. It is much bigger than the first, but does not have the wonderful carved headstone. The inner chamber is about 4m by 2.5m, and the walls are generally 1m high. It's cairn of stones is much bigger also, but unfortunately was getting very overgrown with bushes, making photos of the whole thing very difficult.

Cazarils tombe ovale 1

Trip No.205  Entry No.187  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Just to the north of the little town of Viols-le-Fort, take the little road towasrds Cazarils, and park by a little clearing in the wood after about 1.5 km, not quite at the top of the hill. Here there is a footpath into the woods, well marked with blue markers. Follow this zig-zag path for about 300 metres and you soon find this nice little oval tomb, a style found regularly round these parts.

The outer edge of the tomb is about 8m by 6m, with the inner chamber about 4m by 2.5m, and open to the north. the inner edge of the chamber is formed of many upright slabs, generally about half a metre high. At the back of the chamber is a carved stone (a copy, as the original is safely kept in a museum) with a sort of face carved into it. It is quite well known, I have seen it before in many places. This is a pleasant little place, with sheep bells clanging all around.

Dolmen de Cambous

Trip No.205  Entry No.186  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just outside the ancient village take a path eastwards along the edge of the wood from near to the sheep pond for about 200 metres, and you will get to this dolmen. There is a round cairn of stones about 10 metres in diameter, with two concentric circles of dressed stone around it. At the centre is a chamber, made with drystone walling except for the backstone and two entrance stones, but it is not very big at about 2m by 1m. There is no sign of any capstone.

Cambous oval tombs

Trip No.205  Entry No.185  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: Just outside the ancient village can be seen the remains of at least one ruined chambered tomb, which I assume to be of the oval tomb type.

Village Préhistorique de Cambous

Trip No.205  Entry No.184  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4

Log Text: This is a 5000 year old village with two groups of houses found at Viols Laval, just to the south of St Martin-de-Londres, and is easily found because it is signposted from all around. To get there, park in the village and it is about an 800 metre walk to the site, but unfortunately for me towards the end of September, it had just shut last weekend and would not be open again until next easter !

However, despite not being able to get into the fenced off site, I could see some of the excavated houses through the fence. In two main groups, the houses consist of very long buildings arranged side by side. There a reconstructed dwelling a bit further into the complex, which I could not get to see properly. This was all a big shame, as this was one of the sites I have been particularly looking forwards to seeing throughout my entire trip.

Ginestous menhir 7

Trip No.205  Entry No.183  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Ginestous menhir 7 remains as a small stump, which can be seen at the edge of the little road which leads up to the chateau, just uphill from the corner after the railway crossing.

Ginestous menhir 5

Trip No.205  Entry No.182  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Ginestous menhir 5 is fallen and broken into several pieces. This was once quite a large menhir, of a tapered shape, significantly more than 2 metres long and almost 2 metres wide at the base. It can be found about 40 metres to the west of the dolmen.

Ginestous Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.181  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Ginestous dolmen is in a very wrecked state. At first sight it seems to be another menhir, but closer inspection shows it to be the remains of a burial chamber, these days not much more than a depression in a mound of stones. At the eastern end is a large slab (2m by 2m) standing, which is perhaps the backstone to the chamber, but possibly the fallen capstone, which may well have covered a chamber made from drystone walling. It can be seen looking west from the Almond menhir, looking like a smaller menhir, and is 40 metres to the south of menhir 3.

Ginestous menhir 4

Trip No.205  Entry No.180  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Ginestous menhir 4 is fallen and broken into several pieces. It is only about 8 metres away from menhir 3.

Ginestous menhir 3

Trip No.205  Entry No.179  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Ginestous menhir 3 is about 2.7 metres tall, and a very carefully formed rectangular shape, standing proudly overlooking the valley. The top has crumbled and broken a bit, so maybe it was once taller. It can be seen from the Almond menhir, which is about 100 metres away to the east, across a valley, with a little path leading between the two.

Ginestous menhir 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.178  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: Ginestous menhir 2 is about 50 metres further up the hillside from the Almond menhir, which can be found fallen beside a bush. It is fairly small, less than 2 metres in length.

Ginestous Menhir 1

Trip No.205  Entry No.177  Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: The Ginestous complex of 9 menhirs and a burial chamber can be found about 5 kilometres to the east of Ganges, by following the road signposted to Nimes. After the road reaches the top of the hill continue for a further 500 metres, then take the small lane to the north, towards Ginestous chateau. After a couple of hundred metres, the road crosses an old railway line (now dismantled) and there is room to park here. The wonderful Almond menhir can be seen from here.

Ginestous menhir is the most wonderful almond shaped menhir, a good 3 metres in height, up to 2 metres wide at its middle, but only 30 cm thick. The flat front faces due south. The work that has gone into shaping it is extremely finely done.

They did a great job making this one, surely one of the most lovely standing stones in the world. Easily found a couple of hundred metres along the disused railway track to the east of the Ginestous Chateau road crossing, and visible from there. Well worth a visit.

Lacam de Rogues 2

Trip No.205  Entry No.175  Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: From the main road passing the village of Rogues, take the dirt track leading northwest from near the electrical transformer, opposite the road to the village. Walk about 600 metres along this track, always keeping to the right when there is a choice. There is then a little cultivated field in the valley to the right, go around this and to the top of the higher ground beyond it, and continue for another 300 metres.

At the highest point is a little tree growing, with the central pillar for this cromlech standing beside it. This central pillar is the only stone of this circle still standing, and it is not much more than a metre high. The circle of stones around it is about 90 metres in diameter, and there are many stones remaining, but all fallen and crumbling, as is the wont of this fragile pale limestone. I would imagine there to be bits of at least 30 stones still in evidence, most of them being in the northern half of the circle. The southern half is practically barren, and there has been a wall, or field clearance line of stones created where a big one of the circle would have been.

Apart from the cold wind blowing across this plateau, the clouds have now mostly cleared, and it is becoming a clear blue sky with great visibility. It really is special up here, with magnificent views all around over the Causse, with hills and mountains in the distance all around. The Cevennes to the north look particularly enchanting in the low golden sunlight.

Lacam de Rogues 1

Trip No.205  Entry No.174  Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: From the main road passing the village of Rogues, take the dirt track leading northwest from near the electrical transformer, opposite the road to the village. After 300 metres walking down this track, there is a little mound on the right side, of which the centre has been dug out. To the other side of the track here are the remains of the first Cromlech de Rogues. There is not much here to be seen, but there are a few larger lumps of stone laying around, and with an eye of faith, an arc can possibly be made out with some of them.