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Sites theCaptain has logged on trip number: 200 (View all trips)
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Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Trip No.200 Entry No.1 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 27th Feb 2000. My rating: Access 5
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by thecaptain on 13th Dec 2003. The southern, upstream, entrance to the magnificent cave at Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France.
The river takes a shortcut through the hillside here, and has created a massive cave, which is so big that a fairly large road also runs through the cave.
Within this cave were found signs of life going back tens of thousands of years, and indeed the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower. The finds here gave the name Azilian to an entire prehistoric culture.
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Log Text: Drive south into the lower mountains from Toulouse. Visit St Sulpice, Mas D’Azil, many mountain roads, Foix, Pont du Diable.
Cap-Del Pouech Dolmen
Trip No.200 Entry No.2 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 27th Feb 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Cap-Del Pouech dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 13th Dec 2003. Cap-Del Pouech dolmen near Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France.
I am not 100% sure whether this is the famed Cap del Pouech dolmen or another. I parked at the Southern entrance to the cave and followed a marked walking trail up and over the hill above the cave, following signs to the dolmen. There were other dolmens signposted in the area.
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Log Text: Lovely walk to the dolmen from Mas D'Azil across the top of the cave. Signs suggest there are more here.
Peyralade Dolmen
Trip No.200 Entry No.3 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 19th Mar 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Peyralade Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Dolmen de Peyralade, near to the village of Vaur, Tarn Southwest France.
This dolmen is on the top of the plateau which the Aveyron river cuts through in a splendid gorge.
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Log Text: A day driving NE from Toulouse. L’Isle-sur-Tarn, Gaillac, Cordes-sur-Ciel, Vaour, 2 Dolmens, Castelnau-de-Montmiral. The Dolmen de Peyralade, is near to the village of Vaur, Tarn Southwest France. This dolmen is on the top of the plateau which the Aveyron river cuts through in a splendid gorge.
Saint-Paul Dolmen
Trip No.200 Entry No.4 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Couldn't find on 19th Mar 2000
Saint-Paul Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 26th Jan 2006. Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, can be found this relatively large dolmen.
The large white capstone is 2 metres off the ground covering a chamber 4 metres by 2 metres, with the usual two sidestones and a backstone. The northern side slab is broken, and only survives at the front half of the chamber.
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Log Text: Drive NE from Toulouse to visit Cordes-sur-Ciel and explore the area. On the way back visit Vaour, and also a quick look for this dolmen marked on the map before a stop at Castelnau-de-Montmiral. I saw nothing obvious from the car,
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.
Grotte de Niaux
Trip No.200 Entry No.10 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Apr 2000. My rating: Access 4
Grotte de Niaux submitted by thecaptain on 14th Aug 2008. Bison inside the Grotte de Niaux.
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Log Text: Grotte de Niaux near Tarascon in Ariège. Check out the world famous Niaux caves for a possible visit soon. The main entrance to the fabulous Niaux cave used for visitors is now further up the hillside than it once was. In ancient times, there would have been several lower, smaller entrances.
Grotte de la Petite Caougno
Trip No.200 Entry No.11 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Apr 2000. My rating: Ambience 4 Access 5
Grotte de la Petite Caougno submitted by thecaptain on 14th Feb 2005. The main entrance to the fabulous Niaux cave used for visitors is now further up the hillside than it once was. In ancient times, there would have been several lower, smaller entrances. This picture is of one of the small side entrances to a cave shelter in the vicinity, in which ancient remains have been found.
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Log Text: Drive S through Pyrénées mountains to Andorra. Lots of snow at top of pass. Look at Ax-les-Thermes, Niaux and other caves on way back, investigating the possibility of a full visit to Niaux.
This is a small cave shelter beside the little road up to the modern Niaux entrance, in which ancient remains have been found.
I am sure I saw a bear wandering around in one of the fields below.
Grotte de Bédeilhac
Trip No.200 Entry No.12 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 2nd Apr 2000
Grotte de Bédeilhac submitted by thecaptain on 14th Feb 2005. Grotte de Bédeilhac, near Tarascon in Ariège, which contains some fine cave art, and sculpted clay figures.
A cave of which the entrance is so big, aeroplanes have been built within it during the war, and taken off from within.
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Log Text: Drive S through Pyrénées mountains to Andorra. Lots of snow at top of pass. Look at Ax-les-Thermes, Niaux and other caves on way back.
A cave of which the entrance is so big, aeroplanes were to have been built within it during the war, and taken off from within.
Grotte de Lombrives
Trip No.200 Entry No.13 Date Added: 15th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 2nd Apr 2000
Grotte de Lombrives submitted by durhamnature on 18th Nov 2012. Section of the cave at Lombrives, from "Anthropologie" via archive.org
Site in Midi:Ariège (09) France
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Log Text: Drive S through Pyrénées mountains to Andorra. Lots of snow at top of pass. Look at Ax-les-Thermes, Niaux and other caves on way back, checking out the possibilities of a proper visit.
Grotte de Niaux
Trip No.200 Entry No.15 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 16th Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Grotte de la Petite Caougno submitted by thecaptain on 14th Feb 2005. The main entrance to the fabulous Niaux cave used for visitors is now further up the hillside than it once was. In ancient times, there would have been several lower, smaller entrances. This picture is of one of the small side entrances to a cave shelter in the vicinity, in which ancient remains have been found.
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Log Text: Full guided visit Grotte de Niaux with Sean. Fabulous. So glad I booked this up last week.
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.
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
Source de Fontestorbes
Trip No.200 Entry No.22 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Holy Well or Sacred Spring
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Apr 2000. My rating: Access 5
Source de Fontestorbes submitted by thecaptain on 28th Feb 2006. The intermittent Source de Fontestorbes in full flow.
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Log Text: Lovely sunny day exploring in the Ariege hills. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes intermittent spring fascinating. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. Mas D’Azil. Toulouse late.
Montségur
Trip No.200 Entry No.23 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Apr 2000. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 3
Montségur submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur Pog. The castle where the last stand of the Cathars took place against the Catholic Church can be seen here on top of the sacred hill known as the Pog. More than 200 unarmed Parfaits were defeated and burned here in 1244.
However, the Pog, seen here from the northwest, has been inhabited since neolithic times.
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Log Text: A lovely sunny day to explore. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. Mas D’Azil. Toulouse late.
Ancient defended settlement on top of the sacred hill known as The Pog at Montségur in Ariège. Although the main remains of the castle date back to the time of the Cathars, there is plenty of evidence that this hill has been inhabited since time immemorial. There is a little museum with lots of items in the village below the Pog.
Montségur is more well known as the site of the slaughter of the last of the Cathars by the catholic church in 1244, where after a long siege, 200 unarmed Cathar Parfaits were defeated and burned in a pyre by an army numbering 10,000. The Castle dungeon has a strange solar event each summer solstice, as the first rays of the rising sun shine right through the two arrow slots on one side, and straight out through two others on the far side. Was this built into it deliberately ? One might be a fluke, but two ?
Montségur museum
Trip No.200 Entry No.24 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Mar 2000. My rating: Access 4
Montségur museum submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur village. Looking down onto the village from the walls of the hilltop castle. There is an interesting museum in the village with all sorts of ancient stuff found here contained within.
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Log Text: Small museum with lots of items in the village of Montségur below the sacred hill known as Le Pog.
Grotte de Mas D'Azil
Trip No.200 Entry No.25 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 24th Apr 2005. My rating: Access 5
Grotte de Mas D'Azil submitted by thecaptain on 13th Dec 2003. The southern, upstream, entrance to the magnificent cave at Mas D'Azil, Ariege, southwest France.
The river takes a shortcut through the hillside here, and has created a massive cave, which is so big that a fairly large road also runs through the cave.
Within this cave were found signs of life going back tens of thousands of years, and indeed the world famous Faon aux Oiseaux spear thrower. The finds here gave the name Azilian to an entire prehistoric culture.
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Log Text: A lovely sunny day to explore the Ariege mountains. Puivert castle. Fontestorbes. Montsegur Castle. Pass de ? closed. Plain de ? Ax-les-Thermes, Col de Portel, scary roads. The usual drive through of Mas D’Azil on the way home to impress visitors. Get back to Toulouse late.
Palet de Sanson
Trip No.200 Entry No.30 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Natural Stone / Erratic / Other Natural Feature
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 1st May 2000. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Palet de Sanson submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. the Dolmen de Sem, also know as Palet de Sanson.
A remarkably sited dolmen in the Pyrenees, near to the village of Vicdessos, Ariege, France
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Log Text: Drive south from Toulouse with the intention of climbing the Pic des Trois Seigneurs, have to stop, too much snow at 2055m. Superb up here. Back via Aulus, Arse, Seix. Strange language spoken out here. On the way down, stop to look at the Dolmen de Sem, also know as Palet de Sanson. A remarkably sited dolmen in the Pyrenees, near to the village of Vicdessos, Ariege, France. Pictures taken 1st May 2000. I discovered this dolmen while driving up the valley on a day trip to climb the Pic des Trois Seigneurs (I failed to get to the top due to the depth of the snow on the final ridge), which may be the mountain in the left background of this picture.
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.
Montségur
Trip No.200 Entry No.36 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Midi:Ariège (09))
Visited: Yes on 14th May 2000
Montségur submitted by thecaptain on 16th Feb 2005. Montségur Pog, seen here from the southwest, has been inhabited and defended since neolithic times.
But it is more well known for its Cathar castle, and as the site of the slaughter of the last of the Cathars by the catholic church in 1244.
The Castle dungeon has a strange solar event each summer solstice, as the first rays of the rising sun shine right through the two arrow slots on one side, and straight out through two others on the far side. Was this built into it deliberately ? One mi...
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Log Text: Dad over to Toulouse for a long weekend. Explore Mirepoix. Montsegur, Couiza, Rennes-le-Chateau, very strange place. Gorges St George upper Aude valley, Col de Pailleres (2001m). Ax-les-Thermes, Tarascon, Foix, and back to 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.