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Grand Menhir de Counozouls
Trip No.205 Entry No.84 Date Added: 28th Oct 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 12th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Grand Menhir de Counozouls submitted by thecaptain on 15th Nov 2005. Le Grand Menhir de Counozouls, the largest in southern France, stands at 8.9 metres tall.
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Log Text: After a seemingly very long drive south from Quillan, along roads hacked into cliff faces, passing through numerous massive gorges which at times I never thought the campervan would fit through, I arrived at the village of Ste Colombe-sur-Guette. A few more miles south along the road in the valley, then climbing steeply up the side of the gorge, all the time bearing in mind theres a 3 metre height limit signposted, but which thankfully turns out to be only at one side of the road. Turn left and cross the bridge towards Cournozouls, and go a further 1.7 kilometres, until you come to a double right hand bend.
There is room to park here on the outside of the curve, and just here can be found this massive menhir, standing below the road on the steep hillside, with a little path leading down to it, and thankfully the trees around it now cleared. The stone now stands proudly in the open, with a lovely view of the village across the valley. The stone stands over 8 metres in height, making it the biggest in southern France, and one of the tallest in the entire country. It is a large granite lump, and initially looks a bit like it might be a natural lump fallen down the mountain. However it certainly looks to have been shaped, and wedged into its upright position, and I am assured it is a proper menhir.
Tombeau de Roland
Trip No.200 Entry No.64 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Tombeau de Roland submitted by thecaptain on 12th Mar 2006. Just up the hillside a bit from Dolmen de La Jagartière can be found the Tombeau de Roland.
Once thought to be a megalithic tomb, the latest thoughts are that it is nothing more than a place from where a large rock has been quarried. But why up here ?
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Log Text: Drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Pic de Nore, Mazamet, Toulouse. These dolmens were up a steep hillside road from Villeneuve Minervois
Roque Traoucado
Trip No.200 Entry No.63 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Roque Traoucado submitted by thecaptain on 13th Mar 2006. The sign beside the Roque Traoucado. Well, most of it anyway !
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Log Text: Drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Pic de Nore, Mazamet, Toulouse. These dolmens were up a steep hillside road from Villeneuve Minervois
Dolmen de la Jagartière
Trip No.200 Entry No.65 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Dolmen de la Jagartière submitted by thecaptain on 20th Mar 2006. The noticeboard beside the La Jagartière dolmen.
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Log Text: Drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Pic de Nore, Mazamet, Toulouse. These dolmens were up a steep hillside road from Villeneuve Minervois with a tremendous view
Malves Menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.98 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Malves Menhir submitted by thecaptain on 6th Mar 2006. The menhir is to be found a few hundred metres west of the winemaking village of Malves-en-Minervois, and just across the river from the central wine co-op.
Although it is over 5 metres high, it is less than half a metre thick.
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Log Text: This large menhir is to be found a few hundred metres outside the village of Malves-en-Minervois, taking the D.38 road westwards towards Villalier, and just across the river. There is a little parking area, and a signposted walk for about 100 metres to the stone. Just how could I have missed this when I came to look 5 years ago ?
The stone stands proudly on a higher bit of ground above a vineyard, with steps up to the field it is in. It is over 5 metres high (with apparently 4 metres more under the ground), 1.5 metres in width but less than half a metre thick. It was restored in the 1960s and looks to have been mended from three broken pieces, although its possible that the cement like substance is perhaps just filling cracks.
Dolmen de la Madeleine d’Albesse
Trip No.205 Entry No.97 Date Added: 8th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen de la Madeleine d’Albesse submitted by thecaptain on 7th Mar 2006. A few metres to the east of the main chamber is a slab lined pit in the mound, about a metre square and the same deep. Whether this was another part of the original tomb or not, I cannot tell.
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Log Text: Walk just more than a kilometer southwest along the track along the top of the ridge from the bends in the D.3 road to the north of Monze. The dolmen can then be found in a bank to the left of the trackway, on top of the ridge.
I couldn’t be sure whether the dolmen was made on a natural ridge, or whether there is a large mound built around it, its probably a bit of both. The chamber itself is quite large, but a bit of a wreck these days. It looks to be a sort of V shaped chamber 6 metres in length and up to 3 metres wide and is open to the east at about 118°, which looks right along the valley below the ridge. Its quite a high chamber too, and there would be plenty of room to stand up within it. Unfortunately, although the sides are well defined, there is only one capstone, and this is dislodged to one side, near to the back of the chamber. A few metres to the east of the main chamber is a slab lined pit in the mound, about a metre square and the same deep. Whether this was another part of the original tomb or not, I cannot tell.
I have to say it was a pleasant walk along the ridge despite the intense heat, through lovely smelling pine and juniper scrub, with very pleasant views of rocky hills and vine rich valleys below. There is also lots of exotic insect life up here too, I disturbed a praying mantis at one point, which flew off in a flash of green. Just to the northwest of the dolmen and mound, it looks like there may well be another artificial mound, but this one is very overgrown and impossible to get onto to have a closer look.
Pierre levée de Picarel
Trip No.200 Entry No.5 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Mar 2000
Pierre levée de Picarel submitted by johnstone on 23rd Nov 2018. The west side, Sep.13, 2018
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Log Text: Seen from the road during a drive SE from Toulouse to explore Les Montagnes Noire. Revel, Saissac, Mas Cabardès, Chateaux de Lastours, Gorges de la Clamoux, Dolmens, Mazamet, Toulouse.
Le Cercle de Rennes-les-Bains
Trip No.200 Entry No.41 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Couldn't find on 21st May 2000. My rating: Access 3
Log Text: Visit Rennes-le-Chateau with some of the Americans. Walk into the hills to look for stone circle, but find nothing obvious.
La Pierre Droite (Peyrolles)
Trip No.200 Entry No.21 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Couldn't find on 23rd Apr 2000
La Pierre Droite (Peyrolles) submitted by ceresbeith on 7th Jul 2018.
ceresbeith visited on 26th Oct 2017
Condition: 4 Ambience: 4 Access: 4
ceresbeith visited on 26th Oct 2017 Condition: 4 Ambience: 4 Access: 4 again, not signed at all, drove past 3 times before we decided to try this track, but there's a small space to park on the road and then a short walk up a forestry track. The menhir itself is beautiful with a lovely ambience around it. Had a grumpy, hot, tired child with me but it was still a great visit.
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Log Text: A rainy day exploring in the mountains south of Carcassonne. Drive S to Couiza, Arques, Peyrepertuse, Quéribus. Gorges de Galamus, more castles and driving, to Quillan. Hoped to see this stone from the roadside, but didn't
Carcassonne - La Cité
Trip No.200 Entry No.20 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 22nd Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 5
Carcassonne - La Cité submitted by thecaptain on 19th Feb 2005. La Cité de Carcassonne, seen here from the south.
Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now mediaeval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
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Log Text: Drive from Toulouse to Carcassonne the slow way via Bram. Visit La Cité.
Carcassonne - La Cité
Trip No.200 Entry No.35 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th May 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Carcassonne - La Cité submitted by thecaptain on 19th Feb 2005. La Cité de Carcassonne, seen here from the south.
Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now mediaeval much of the walls can be seen to date back to Visigoth and Roman times. This is of course, all built upon a citadel which was here long before any of them came here.
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Log Text: Dad over to Toulouse for a long weekend. Drive to Carcassonne via Naurouze and the Canal du Midi. Visit La Cité, Castle, Ramparts, Cathedral. Move on to Mirepoix for the night.
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène
Trip No.200 Entry No.63 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Access 4
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène submitted by thecaptain on 14th Mar 2006. Up on top of a pine covered hill is an open flattish area, upon which is built this lovely tomb. It has all been much restored, so quite how much is original I do not know.
The first thing you see is a circular stone wall containing a stone cairn, about a metre high and about 25 metres in diameter, with upright slabs every 5 metres or so around its circumference. Within this is the remains of a massive structure, and a partitioned chamber.
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Log Text: Day out from Toulouse to explore Minerve ancient village, Rock tunnels, Morrel das Fadas, St Eugene. it was getting late and the roads and map didnt seem to match. I just followed signs to something like fairy hill, and on top of a hill was this amazing site, with a circular walled structure with various chambers and passages in it.
Morrel das Fadas
Trip No.205 Entry No.104 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4
Morrel das Fadas submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Morrel das Fadas, near to the village of Pepieux, in the Minervois region of Aude, southwest France
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Log Text: Although within the commune of Pépieux, this tremendous dolmen is actually nearer and easier to find from the village of Siran, from where you take the D.12 road east for a kilometre or so, and the mound is on the right, on top of a large natural pine covered hill amongst the vines. It is all rather obvious, and has a little parking area and signpost.
By far the biggest dolmen structure in the south of France, I cannot say how much of the hillock it is built on is natural, and how much is its tumulus, but nevertheless, it is a big structure. The chamber itself is 24 metres in length and up to 4 metres wide, aligned towards the southeast at 145°. This chamber is divided into three sections by lovely partitioned portal stones. The back section is rectangular, 4.5 metres long and 4 metres wide. The marvellous central section is 6.5 metres long, with massive side slab walls 2,5 metres high, which carry the single remaining large capstone (about 5m by 3.5m) well above head height.
Unfortunately the portal stones each side of this central chamber are broken, but enough remains to get a good feel for what was once here, as one of the stones of the southeastern portal is almost complete. The 13 metres of entranceway is made with alternating slabs and dry stone walling, and narrows down to about 2 metres wide at the entrance. This really is a fantastic place to visit, but difficult to photograph because of its size and all the surrounding trees.
Oppidum de Pech de Maho
Trip No.205 Entry No.96 Date Added: 8th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 14th Sep 2005
Oppidum de Pech de Maho submitted by catweasel11 on 30th Jul 2006. I believe, when they rebuilt this, they forgot the gate that would allow for a flow of water.
Oppidum at village of Sigean
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Log Text: A large hill, but I got distracted while trying to have a proper look, as there was a large accident being cleared up, and I couldn’t turn down the small road to have a close look.
Tombeau de Roland
Trip No.205 Entry No.101 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Tombeau de Roland submitted by thecaptain on 12th Mar 2006. Just up the hillside a bit from Dolmen de La Jagartière can be found the Tombeau de Roland.
Once thought to be a megalithic tomb, the latest thoughts are that it is nothing more than a place from where a large rock has been quarried. But why up here ?
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Log Text: Just up the hillside a bit from Dolmen de La Jagartière can be found the Tombeau de Roland. Once thought to be a megalithic tomb, the latest thoughts are that it is nothing more than a place from where a large rock has been quarried. But quite why somebody would come to such a place, far away from any buildings up a hillside, which has several other tombs nearby, I do not know. Surely a source of rock more convenient could have been found.
Menhir dit la Pierre Droite (Villeneuve-Minervois)
Trip No.205 Entry No.102 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Couldn't find on 14th Sep 2005
Log Text: I failed to find this stone on the way down the hill. It is supposedly about 1.5 kilometres from the village of Villeneuve-Minervois, at the side of the road.
Morrel das Fadas
Trip No.205 Entry No.106 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4
Morrel das Fadas submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Morrel das Fadas, near to the village of Pepieux, in the Minervois region of Aude, southwest France
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Log Text: Visited again to get some pictures in the bright morning sun, although the sun doesn’t make it through the trees.
Morrel das Fadas replica
Trip No.205 Entry No.105 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Modern Stone Circle etc
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Morrel das Fadas replica submitted by shamrockstone on 6th Jul 2008. A replica of the dolmen, in the nearby village of Pepieux
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Log Text: A small representation of the dolmen des Fades has been built near the roundabout outside the campsite at Pepieux. Excellent.
Dolmen de la Jagartière
Trip No.205 Entry No.100 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Dolmen de la Jagartière submitted by thecaptain on 20th Mar 2006. The slab sided chamber, 3 metres by 2 metres, is covered with a single large capstone, and has an entry looking over the Aude valley to the southeast at 160°. There is a small cairn surrounding the chamber, of which the excavations showed it to be of diameter only 8.5 metres, with an encircling circle of stones.
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Log Text: From the wine village of Villeneuve-Minervois, follow the little windy road northwards for about 4 kilometres into the hills towards Pujol-du-Bosc. This road up into the mountains is now a properly made up road, rather than the dirt track it was 6 years ago. Eventually you will find a parking area and a dolmen sign. Two little signposted walks are arranged, with all sorts of items of interest to see along the way, such as limestone ovens, shepherds huts, and many signs pointing out the various types of vegetation.
From the parking area, take the path to the right from the car park, and after a few hundred metres you will find this splendidly restored dolmen, sitting with wondrous views over the Minervois countryside and the Aude valley to the south. As I sit and write this, theres lots of shouting and horns blowing, is there a hunt on, or is it just shepherds moving their flocks ? The slab sided chamber, 3 metres by 2 metres, is covered with a single large capstone, and has an entry looking over the valley to the southeast at 160°. There is a small cairn surrounding the chamber, of which the excavations showed it to be of diameter only 8.5 metres, with an encircling circle of stones.
It really is superb up here! There's Canigou in the distance to the southeast, and the Meditterranean sea can be seen shimmering on the horizon.
Roque Traoucado
Trip No.205 Entry No.99 Date Added: 9th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 14th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Roque Traoucado submitted by thecaptain on 13th Mar 2006. Roque Traoucado, up on the southern slopes of the Montagne Noire in Minervois wine country.
The views from up here, over the plain of the Aude river are truly spectacular. On a clear day, the Mediterranean sea and the sacred mountain of Canigou in the Pyrénées are clearly visible.
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Log Text: From the wine village of Villeneuve-Minervois, follow the little windy road northwards for about 4 kilometres into the hills towards Pujol-du-Bosc. This road up into the mountains is now a properly made up road, rather than the dirt track it was 6 years ago. Eventually you will find a parking area and a dolmen sign. Two little signposted walks are arranged, with all sorts of items of interest to see along the way, such as limestone ovens, shepherds huts, and many signs pointing out the various types of vegetation.
From the parking area take the short path to the left of the road, and you soon come to the remains of this dolmen, excavated in 1972. What you find is the remains of a round stone cairn, diameter about 18 metres and encircled by several large upright stones, with the remains of a chamber in the middle. The chamber is 4 metres in length, by 1 metre wide, and slab lined, but there are no capstones. There is an entry corridor, strangely oriented towards the southwest. Amongst items found here during the excavations were copper and bronze bracelets. Dating showed that the tomb was in use for a long time during the third millennium BC.