Villaigue Dolmen 2

Trip No.204  Entry No.160  Date Added: 17th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Yes on 21st Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Well, I just HAD to come here, to the village of St Martin l'Ars, didn't I. All those years ago, when I started researching and cataloging French megalithic sites, I found two dolmens recorded in the community of St Martin l'Ars, possibly via the Merimee online database. Some time later, I had decided to quit work and go on a 6 month odyssey around France looking for old stones - in particular trying to find many of the little know ones. So, it became one of the main objectives of my trip to hunt these two down, as I have been called an Ars on more than one occasion, particularly with respect to going on this expedition, so in a way these were my dolmens !

So, it happened that on 21st July 2005, I got to the village of St Martin l'Ars, which is 40 to 50 kilometres southeast of Poitiers. I have to admit that I had no idea where to find the dolmens, but the French villages often have maps of the locality at their Mairie, sometimes with items of historical interest marked on them. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. It should also be said, that in most of France, their megalithic heritage is not known, and the public usually have no idea about such matters, so asking people is more often than not met with blank looks.

St Martin l'Ars is a nice little village, with a castle and a leisure park. After initially not finding any indication of where the dolmens were, I went and had a picnic lunch beside the lake in the leisure park, where there is a nice beach for swimming, and battery powered galleons which can be rented out ! Within the leisure park I found a map with some local walks marked on it, and to my great joy there was a route marked which passed by the dolmens. So after my lunch and an ice cream on this very hot day, I was able to have a go to try to find them.

A couple of kilometres north of the village, I parked between the hamlets of Vilaigre and Bars, just to the east of the little river, then was able to walk down the obvious track to the south for a couple of hundred metres. The remains of the two dolmens were to be found under the bushes in the field on the left. Both dolmens were thoroughly overgrown, and had been ploughed very close to, and I have to say that both were not much more than a capstone sitting on top of a jumble of other stones. It was impossible to make out any more details of what was once here. I have to say, although there are only two dolmens recorded in the French monuments record, it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were ruined remains of several others hereabouts. There are dotted about other clumps of bushes which might harbour ancient stones, and there are many hedgerows which could hide the odd bit of dolmen. As with much of France, there is probably a lot here to find - it just needs somebody with an interest, and a lot of time on their hands.

The remains of the dolmens are found under the bushes in the field on the left. Dolmen B is about 50 metres to the east of its neighbour, and is in an even worse state. It too has been ploughed very close to, and is more thickly overgrown. Other than a pile of stones, the remnants of the capstone sits in the bushes at an angle, partly on the ground. Again, it was impossible to make out any more details of what was once here.

Villaigue Dolmen 1

Trip No.204  Entry No.159  Date Added: 17th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Yes on 21st Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Well, I just HAD to come here, to the village of St Martin l'Ars, didn't I. All those years ago, when I started researching and cataloging French megalithic sites, I found two dolmens recorded in the community of St Martin l'Ars, possibly via the Merimee online database. Some time later, I had decided to quit work and go on a 6 month odyssey around France looking for old stones - in particular trying to find many of the little know ones. So, it became one of the main objectives of my trip to hunt these two down, as I have been called an Ars on more than one occasion, particularly with respect to going on this expedition, so in a way these were my dolmens !

So, it happened that on 21st July 2005, I got to the village of St Martin l'Ars, which is 40 to 50 kilometres southeast of Poitiers. I have to admit that I had no idea where to find the dolmens, but the French villages often have maps of the locality at their Mairie, sometimes with items of historical interest marked on them. Unfortunately, that was not the case here. It should also be said, that in most of France, their megalithic heritage is not known, and the public usually have no idea about such matters, so asking people is more often than not met with blank looks.

St Martin l'Ars is a nice little village, with a castle and a leisure park. After initially not finding any indication of where the dolmens were, I went and had a picnic lunch beside the lake in the leisure park, where there is a nice beach for swimming, and battery powered galleons which can be rented out ! Within the leisure park I found a map with some local walks marked on it, and to my great joy there was a route marked which passed by the dolmens. So after my lunch and an ice cream on this very hot day, I was able to have a go to try to find them.

A couple of kilometres north of the village, I parked between the hamlets of Vilaigre and Bars, just to the east of the little river, then was able to walk down the obvious track to the south for a couple of hundred metres. The remains of the two dolmens were to be found under the bushes in the field on the left. Both dolmens were thoroughly overgrown, and had been ploughed very close to, and I have to say that both were not much more than a capstone sitting on top of a jumble of other stones. It was impossible to make out any more details of what was once here. I have to say, although there are only two dolmens recorded in the French monuments record, it wouldn't surprise me at all if there were ruined remains of several others hereabouts. There are dotted about other clumps of bushes which might harbour ancient stones, and there are many hedgerows which could hide the odd bit of dolmen. As with much of France, there is probably a lot here to find - it just needs somebody with an interest, and a lot of time on their hands.

The remains of the first dolmen is found under the bushes in the field on the left. Dolmen A has been ploughed very close to, and I have to say that it is not much more than a capstone about 4 m by 2 m sitting on top of a jumble of other stones, aligned to the northeast.

Vaon Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.108  Date Added: 3rd Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Yes on 17th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This nice dolmen can be found about a kilometre southeast of the village of Trois-Moutiers, and is easy to find because it is signposted. It is about a 300 metre walk from where you can park near to a barn. It is a fairly complete Angevin dolmen with a 5m by 2.5m main chamber fronted at the east end by a 2.5 by 1.5 metre entrance porch. The two capstones of the main chamber are still in place, although the roofstone of the entrance has fallen. Nicely shaded by a large tree, there was a wasp nest inside when I was here, which distracted slightly from my visit.

Vaintray menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.151  Date Added: 17th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Couldn't find on 20th Jul 2005

Log Text: Lots of new houses have been built in the area around this menhir, and I could find nowhere to get behind them to have a look. It is all very busy, narrow roads around here.

Vaintray menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.157  Date Added: 17th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Yes on 21st Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just to the east of the hamlet of Vaintray, and about 100 metres south down a little cross track from the road to Aslonnes, can be found this little menhir, stood in a little grassy clearing amongst bushes in a region left clear of the fields. It is a small triangular stone, only about 1.3 metres tall, and 0.8 metres wide at the base. It's got some lovely yellow lichens on it, and is hiding in amongst some strange fruit trees, sort of a tiny little bright red plum, which nothing wants to eat. I have not seen these before.

Tumulus de Chassigny

Trip No.204  Entry No.115  Date Added: 4th Aug 2020
Site Type: Round Barrow(s) Country: France (Poitou:Vienne (86))
Visited: Yes on 18th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: This is a blinking great big mound, it must be 50 metres in diameter and 10 metres high. It looks to have been well dug into and messed about with, but there is nothing obvious to see except for the large mound. I wonder what is underneath.

Toul Er Rest Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.59  Date Added: 11th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Couldn't find on 13th Jul 2005

Log Text: I had a quick look for this, now to be found somewhere in the outskirts and building land of Camors, but could see no signs or obvious place for it to be, so moved on.

Tombeaux du Single

Trip No.204  Entry No.215  Date Added: 27th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bourgogne:Côte-d'Or (21))
Visited: Couldn't find on 3rd Aug 2005

Log Text: As with so many of the megalithic sites in the area, I could find nothing to help me find it. Remains of two burial chambers made with large slabs were excavated here in 1867. Many human bones, flint tools and a round holed stone were found.

Tombeau des Géants

Trip No.204  Entry No.11  Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Also known as "Roche a la Vieille", or "Old Hag's Rock", this is a strange little monument high up in the hills by the GR37 footpath, a kilometre or so from a large parking area. What it is now is a 4 metre long, 1 metre wide coffre type grave, made using 4 large stone slabs and many other smaller stone bits making up the ends.

It is supposedly a bronze age burial tomb, but constructed from some previous megalithic standing stones from the area. Not far from the tomb is a fallen 4 metre long menhir, and several other pieces of rock. There was probably a line of large menhirs here in long distant times, which have been re used.

Thedes Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.192  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Jul 2005

Log Text: Approximately 2 metre tall menhir with an iron cross mounted on the top of it. It is to be found at the D.5 and D.90 road junction just to the west of the hamlet of Theddes, and is marked as a cross on the ign map. I must have driven right by it, perhaps twice.

Temple de Mercure

Trip No.204  Entry No.194  Date Added: 28th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Temple Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 26th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Remains of a Gallo-Roman temple can be seen at the summit of the Puy de Dôme (1465m).

St Jean-Brévelay stèle

Trip No.204  Entry No.33  Date Added: 8th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Right out the back of the church, is the remains of an iron age stele, almost used as a roadsign.

St Jean-Brévelay menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.32  Date Added: 8th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 12th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Right outside the church is a splendid 4 to 5 metre tall menhir. It looks like an original, but I couldn’t find it mentioned in any of my books.

Soldats-de-Saint-Cornély

Trip No.204  Entry No.52  Date Added: 11th Jul 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 13th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4

Log Text: This site consists of three parallel rows of stones, about 140 in all, running southeast to northwest, spaced at about 40 metres from each other, but what a terrible state these poor soldiers have fallen into. Not only has a road junction been built right into the middle of them, and a forest grown over them, but many of them have been taken away to ornament a garden in Lorient. What remains there are have become very overgrown and almost impossible to see, and one of the lines has been ploughed up. The only real way to tell where the stones are is by looking at the rows of hedges and trees.

The central row can be followed eastwards through the forest for about 100 to 200 metres until it gets to a clearing, within which a sort of Asterix the Gaul village complex has been built and abandoned, and is now decaying all around. At this end of the rows are the remains of two tertre tumuli, which can just about be made out as raised mounds with a few stones protruding, but these have suffered terribly. One has in fact had a sort of fairground sideshow built on it, while the other, with a large capstone still to be seen, has been surrounded with a fence, and a sort of oven, or fire made on top of it.

The poor Cornély army is very much in need of getting back into some sort of order. This is perhaps the monument most in need of some TLC and protection that I have ever seen.

Saint-Hilaire Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.175  Date Added: 20th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Limousin:Creuse (23))
Visited: Couldn't find on 22nd Jul 2005

Log Text: I could not find this, despite it being clearly marked on my ign 1:100,000 map. However, it seem to be no longer marked on any new maps, I wonder whether it is a casualty of the N.145 trunk road, or whether it is still to be found somewhere near to the big road junction.

Saint Roch Menhir

Trip No.204  Entry No.185  Date Added: 24th Aug 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 25th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This menhir can be fairly easily found by following marked footpaths for a mile or so from St-Nectaire to Croix-St-Roche, high up on the hill, beside the track which passes from one valley to the next. It's about 2 metres tall, and made from a hexagonal block of crystalline volcanic basalt, the sort which they call orgues (organ pipes) round here. Very nice. If it weren't for all the trees, the views from here in many directions would be superb, with the Puy-de-Sancy mountain off to the west, across which are rolling lots of wet looking clouds ! Think I'd best get back.

Rouffignac Dolmen

Trip No.204  Entry No.170  Date Added: 20th Aug 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Limousin:Haute-Vienne (87))
Visited: Yes on 22nd Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: From the hamlet of Rouffignac, this little dolmen is signposted and easily found, about 400 metres along the track opposite the farm, first to the west, and then south (left) into a little recently cleared area amongst thet trees. The dolmen is a simple thing, with a 2.5 by 2.5 metre capstone sat on three upright supports, about one metre above the ground. The capstone has several 30 mm cupules carved into it, and also a fairly large diameter circle - or semi circle at least, which I think must be relatively modern.

Rocher Maheux

Trip No.204  Entry No.8  Date Added: 4th Jul 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 10th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: What a terrible state the remains of this allée couverte are in. It seems to have been pushed about to the edge of the field, and is now not much more than a row of stones in the edge of a wood. The remains are about a dozen slabs, roughly lined up, but probably only in line with the edge of the field. It is however signposted and on the megalithic trail walk from Monteneuf, but it is not worth the detour.

Roche-aux-Fées (Essé)

Trip No.204  Entry No.324  Date Added: 16th Sep 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Bretagne:Ille-et-Vilaine (35))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: Small notes only for this very well known and popular site, which I was originally thinking of saving to be my last megalithic visit of my whole 6 month tour. First thoughts, Aaaaarrrrrgghhhh, it's busy. And you pay to get in. Aaaarrrgghhhhh. Never mind, I have to see it. I decided not to take my book with me and write much, I'll just go and have a look and take some photographs.

OK, it wasn't so bad as I first thought. After I had been here a while, most of the people had gone, and it was in fact free entry, but with a little shop and information shed you have to go through first. In fact, it's not a bad place at all. In actual fact, it's a truly fantastic place. It is really beautiful when not overrun by people.

It is a massive Angevin dolmen, 20 metres long by almost 5 metres wide and 2 metres high. The main chamber is divided into four sections by three internal upright slabs. The entrance porchway is about 3 metres long, and fronted by the most lovely portico, consisting of two uprights and a lintel of carefully worked and positioned stone. It is truly awesome. This is definitely one to visit - but try not to come when everyone else has !

Roche de Migourdy

Trip No.204  Entry No.28  Date Added: 6th Jul 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 11th Jul 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: This was a nice one to find, and is a few hundred metres walk up a track and then across a field to the south of the village of Kergoff, which itself is a few kilometres south of Plumelic. What you find is a nice 25 metre diameter mound at the top of the hill in a field, covered as usual with trees and dense undergrowth.

Within this mound is the remains of a very nice dolmen a couloir, still mostly buried within it. The chamber is about 3.5 m by 2.5 m and lined with large slabs. The whole thing is topped by a single large capstone, and there is room enough to stand up within it. A couple of stones remain from the entrance passageway.

I understand that this mound once had two dolmens within it, one of which has now been wrecked. I found no sign of another chamber anywhere, but that is not to say that there aren't remains hidden in the thick undergrowth somewhere.