<< Text Pages >> Le Dolmen de Roche-Grise - Burial Chamber or Dolmen in France in Normandie:Manche (50)
Submitted by TheCaptain on Thursday, 31 March 2022 Page Views: 1137
Neolithic and Bronze AgeSite Name: Le Dolmen de Roche-GriseCountry: France
NOTE: This site is 6.98 km away from the location you searched for.
Département: Normandie:Manche (50) Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Nearest Town: Mortain-Bocage Nearest Village: Saint-Clément-Rancoudray
Latitude: 48.669000N Longitude: 0.916W
Condition:
5 | Perfect |
4 | Almost Perfect |
3 | Reasonable but with some damage |
2 | Ruined but still recognisable as an ancient site |
1 | Pretty much destroyed, possibly visible as crop marks |
0 | No data. |
-1 | Completely destroyed |
5 | Superb |
4 | Good |
3 | Ordinary |
2 | Not Good |
1 | Awful |
0 | No data. |
5 | Can be driven to, probably with disabled access |
4 | Short walk on a footpath |
3 | Requiring a bit more of a walk |
2 | A long walk |
1 | In the middle of nowhere, a nightmare to find |
0 | No data. |
5 | co-ordinates taken by GPS or official recorded co-ordinates |
4 | co-ordinates scaled from a detailed map |
3 | co-ordinates scaled from a bad map |
2 | co-ordinates of the nearest village |
1 | co-ordinates of the nearest town |
0 | no data |
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Just to the northeast of Mortain-Bocage are the supposed remains of a "celtic dolmen". It is possibly a natural rock formation.
The area is rich in rock outcrops, and prehistoric finds, a land marked by the legend of King Arthur, inhabited by fairies, elves, and other magical creatures.…!
An interesting legend can be found on normandie-heritage.com, which running through Google translate, gives the following.
La Roche-Grise is almost on the edge of Saint-Clément. It is opposite Balandon, which forms the northern slope of the promontory at the foot of which are grouped the first dwellings of the town of Mortain. The remains of a Celtic dolmen gave it a certain reputation in the country, and especially before the main road from Caen to Rennes had been abandoned for that of Neufbourg, it was the goal of daily walks. In our races at Roche-Grise, we have heard his legend repeated many times and we want to repeat it.
One day, it is said, two characters had to meet, as if by chance, not far from the dolmen. One was tall, properly dressed in black, with a pointed beard, and rather sternly dressed: he already seemed of a certain age. The other was a young squire in his twenties, elegantly dressed, with a cap surmounted by the white wing of a dove.
- Do you know me ? asked the young man first.
"No, my lord," said the latter.
"However, you have heard of me, I'm certain of it... Your companions, I have no doubt, must have told you often about some small services that I sometimes rendered to them!... I am Satan. and I am ready to offer you my good offices, if that suits you.
Any other than our youngster would have taken fright at these words. Many would even have fled; but he did not move from his seat and stared very attentively at his interlocutor.
"You are Satan!" he replied, so much the better if I can count on your help.
"I knew it: that's why I came, because I was looking for you... Listen! I have guessed that you are madly in love with the wife of your lord and master, whose extraordinary beauty has already inflamed the hearts of several of your comrades. But so far none of them have been able to touch her!... She did not want to listen to a single one and her virtues irritated my anger!... Well!... I want to help you in your projects. I will do everything possible to make them succeed!... Only, I am not going there by devious means, I want your soul in return.
"What does it matter, if I manage to be loved!!... What should I do?"
"Accompany me to La Roche-Grise and sign there, on the stone, the engagement which I will present to you and which you will give to me."
"Let's go now," said the teenager quickly.
The dolmen was then in the middle of the forest, in the center of a vast plateau. It consisted of two immense terminals, driven into the ground, on which rested two of the angles of a large stone in the form of a table, the other two angles of which rested on the ground. All around, gigantic centuries-old oak trees cast their shade over the monument.
Once arrived at the rock, Satan introduced his companion into a sort of chamber or vault made under the stone table. Then, sitting down, he began to write the engagement agreed between them and presenting the young man with a pen, he urged him to sign, which was immediately done for him.
- Good very good ! said the demon... Now take this coin. All you have to do is have her touch the lock of the apartment where you will be able to find the young woman you want... Only, don't forget to bring this coin back here tomorrow morning.
... moreover, I have one last recommendation to make to you: you must use it only when night comes ... Now go away in peace! ... Your lord and master is in travel and you have nothing to fear, my son!...
After hearing all these recommendations, the wretch returned as quickly as possible to the castle, which was none other than the seigniorial manor of Saint-Barthélemy, named La Sablonnière, then surrounded by fortifications.
When night fell, he presented the coin he had received at the various doors which he found on his way; they opened before him immediately. But the noble chatelaine was in her oratory, kneeling on her prie-dieu, and holding in her arms an ivory crucifix, in an entirely angelic invocation, which nothing could disturb.
The cowardly seducer then had to withdraw backwards, slowly.
As soon as the first rays of the sun appeared, he went in all haste to Roche-Grise. Satan was waiting for him leaning on the dolmen.
- Well said the demon, you're right! Put the piece back in its place; you will take it again this evening.
The squire immediately entered the vault.
But no sooner was he there than Satan gave a strong kick to one of the supports of the monument. The huge stone table suddenly collapsed, crushing the unfortunate man under it.
Satan disappeared with a sinister sneer.
Around the year 1820, farmers, while lifting this mysterious block of gray granite, found under the druidic stone some fragments of calcined human bones and a Gallic gold coin, which was handed over and offered to the sub-prefect of so. One of his sons, Colonel de l'E..., showed it to me in his father's rich collection. I remember
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