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Mons dolmen 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.143 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Mons dolmen 1 submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Mons dolmen 1.
A bit of a devil to find near the village of Asier in Lot. There are several dolmens, a menhir and a couple of tumuli in the fields around here, but this was the only one I could find, without crossing fences, walls and cropped fields.
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Log Text: In the Champ de Belair, to the northwest of the village of Assier, on the opposite (northwestern) side of the railway to the previous dolmens, are supposedly 4 dolmens, 2 tumulus and a menhir to be seen. But they don’t get any easier to find. Follow the trackway along the northern side of the railway, in a northwesterly direction for about a kilometre from the station. The track gradually fades out into an overgrown grassy path, with bushes everywhere, before completely fading away into nothing. In a field to the left of the path, having passed through some dense scrub and across a wall, I eventually found the first dolmen.
A 4 metre long by 2 metres wide capstone sits on top of a bit of a wreck of a chamber, orientated at about 115°. The chamber seems to be made from a mix of slabs and dry stones, but its possible that the slabs are just crumbling, and the capstone has been held up by stones placed underneath it.
Dolmen du Bois des Boeufs
Trip No.203 Entry No.142 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Bois des Boeufs submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Bois des Boeufs dolmen, seen here in its mound amongst the flower filled woodland.
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Log Text: Blimey, how difficult can it be to find these places ? This dolmen is in the book, is on the 1:100000 map, with a name, and I have the detailed map also. Its to be found 200 metres from Garivals dolmen on a bearing of 025°, but can you walk in that direction ? No. I eventually found it after some long way round dead reckoning, and by going through some very dense bushy woodland. I wondered if I would get lost in here for ever, but it was worth it once I had found the dolmen.
It is almost completely still within its mound, with just the large 3 metre by 4 metre capstone above the surface on top of the tumulus, which has a diameter of about 20 metres. The chamber is 4 metres in length and 1.5 metres wide, and opens towards the east at about 115°, though it is difficult to get an accurate bearing, as its all below ground, with only about 40 cm depth. There are lots of insects chirrping away here, birdies tweeting and a cuckoo going at full tilt. There are cowslip type flowers and buttercups everywhere. lovely.
Garivals Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.141 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Garivals dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 7th Nov 2005. Garivals dolmen, near the village of Assier in Lot is much unloved.
It has not only had a wall built through it, but also a trackway which cuts through, along where this photo is taken from.
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Log Text: To the west of the village of Assier, about 1.5 kilometres along the D.92 road, there is a trackway leaving at an angle to the north, nearby what seems to be a road repair depot. A few hundred metres along this trackway can be found the Dolmen de Garivals, much unloved, fenced in and with a wall built through it. The chamber is about 3 m by 1.5 m, and a single capstone now covers only half of it. Much of its mound remains, and there is a strange sort of triangle stone on top.
Belinac Menhir
Trip No.203 Entry No.139 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Belinac Menhir submitted by MichelDRN on 20th Oct 2005. I suggest to rename Livernon Menhir as Belinac Menhir, its local name.
From Livernon (Lot, 46), heading SE towards the road joining Cahors and Figeac towns, a sign indicates Belinac Menhir on the right side. 600 meters and this outstanding monolith appears.
It is 3.50 meters high, 0.40 m wide, and large from 1.50m (base), to 1.90 m (middle) and 1.00m (top).
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Log Text: Three and a half metres tall, but only about 30 cm thick, this menhir can be found signposted to the southeast from the village of Livernon. It leans at a slight angle and has some strange markings on it. There are several horizontal lines, and many weird circular shapes. Signposted just off the large road up a small track, there is a little parking area nearby.
Livernon quarry
Trip No.203 Entry No.138 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Ancient Mine, Quarry or other Industry
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Access 4
Livernon quarry submitted by MichelDRN on 14th Oct 2005. Building two dolmens is ongoing.These two cap stones are still waiting for transportation to their -for ever unknown- destination.
This site is located 500 m South from the Pierre Martine, NW of Livernon.
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Log Text: Between the car parking area and the Pierre Martine is an outcropping of limestone pavement. This has in the past been used to extract slabs, which have been removed and used for building dolmens.
Rougié Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.137 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Rougié dolmen submitted by MichelDRN on 14th Oct 2005. The Rougié dolmen is located 2.750m NW from Livernon church, 250m NW from the 'Pierre Martine' dolmen, in open field.
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Log Text: Just a hundred metres or two behind the Pierre Martine, beyond the fence and up the slope into the adjacent field, can be found this dolmen sitting in a field full of thistles, surrounded by brambles and scrub. Despite the many people who visit the Pierre Martine, hardly anybody knows of the existence of this dolmen. It is about 3 metres long with a capstone broken into two pieces, and faces 085°
La Pierre Martine
Trip No.203 Entry No.136 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Pierre Martine submitted by thecaptain on 22nd Oct 2005. La Pierre Martine is the largest of the many hundreds of dolmens to be found in the departement of Lot.
The chamber and its capstone is seven metres long, but unfortunately now broken into two pieces.
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Log Text: Well, I had to come here, didn’t I. It is signposted from the main road, and places all around, to the northwest of the village of Livernon. It has its own little parking area, and the dolmen is found about 200 metres walk away across the fields and an intriguing limestone pavement.
This is the biggest dolmen in the departement of Lot, the capstone being 7 metres in length and 2 metres wide, held up on just two, equally long sideslabs, helped out these days by two concrete pillars, one at each end. The capstone is now broken in two pieces, and before it broke, it used to rock on top of its supports with just the gentlest of persuasion. The main chamber is at the eastern end of the monument, while at the western end there is a blocking stone and what seems to be a side entry from the south. The chamber is aligned eastwards on 093°.
Bouyé Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.133 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Bouyé dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. To the southeast of Gramat, near the hamlet of Bouyé can be seen the remains of this double dolmen and its little mound.
I could not get into the field for a close look, and thick hedges and trees made making out what is there, and getting photographs difficult.
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Log Text: To the southeast of Gramat, a few hundred metres along the GR.6 south from the hamlet of Bouyé can be seen the remains of this double dolmen and its little mound. Its just to the side of the track, opposite a home with a swimming pool being installed. I could not get into the field for a close look, and thick hedges and trees made making out what is there, and getting photographs difficult. I could however make out that there were some large slabs of stone at the eastern end of a long mound.
Champ des Courses Tumulus
Trip No.203 Entry No.132 Date Added: 10th Apr 2020
Site Type: Chambered Tomb
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 24th May 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5
Champ des Courses Tumulus submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. To the west of the town of Gramat, along the D.15 road just before the hippodrome can be found this enormous tumulus.
It’s a big one, perhaps 50 metres in diameter, and 12 metres high, and is in a swampy area beside a fishing lake, which is surprising for round here as most of the area is so arid. It must be an area of springs above an impermeable layer of rock.
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Log Text: To the west of the town of Gramat, along the D.15 road just before the hippodrome can be found this enormous tumulus. It’s a big one, perhaps 50 metres in diameter, and 12 metres high, and is in a swampy area beside a fishing lake, which is surprising for round here as most of the area is so dry. It must be an area of springs above an impermeable layer of rock.
There are a couple of limestone blocks visible at the top, and one or two more large slabs visible at places around the outside. Who knows what may be within ? But even here, somebody has decided that they have to drive their 4WD vehicle over the top of it.
Dolmen du Champ de Monsieur
Trip No.203 Entry No.128 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Champ de Monsieur submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. A nice double dolmen which can be found in woodland to the northwest of the village of Padirac, in Lot.
This is the entry to the western of the two dolmen chambers.
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Log Text: Try as I might, from the place that looks to be the nearest approach to this dolmen by road, I could not get a way through into the right bit of woodland to visit this double dolmen. There is much dense woodland here, and many big new fences. They obviously dont want people (or sheep and deer) getting in and out of here.
I had another go at finding this one from the west this time but it was still a bugger to find although success in the end after climbing a couple of walls. Getting back to the lane afterwards was rather easier !
It’s a double chambered dolmen still sitting on a little mound well hidden by trees. The smaller chamber is about 2 m by 1 m and faces westish. The larger chamber which adjoins the small chamber opens at the opposite end and towards the southeast. The rear capstone for this chamber, which has two, sits on top of the capstone of the smaller one. This was a lovely find.
Dolmen des Calcas
Trip No.203 Entry No.127 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen des Calcas submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen can be found just beside a track to the southwest of Padirac in Lot.
Right at the edge of a field, it’s a basic rectangular chamber about 2.5 by 1.5 metres with no capstone.
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Log Text: After what had started out a good day was turning to failure I needed to find this one. Just beside a track at the edge of a field it’s a basic rectangular chamber about 2.5 by 1.5 metres with no capstone.
While sitting writing my notes there was all sorts of jangling noises going on which turned out to be bells on lots of young sheep gambolling around in the next field. Lovely.
Gouffre de Padirac
Trip No.203 Entry No.125 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Access 5
Gouffre de Padirac submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Massive hole in the ground, I think the largest in Europe, through which some strange winds can blow.
Up until the last century, people thought this was the entrance to hell.
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Log Text: Blimey it’s a big hole. Gaping Ghyll eat your heart out. I think this is the biggest natural hole in Europe. Its massive. No wonder the people were scared of it as being the way to hell until only last century.
Dolmen d'Escurettes
Trip No.203 Entry No.123 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Dolmen d'Escurettes submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Hard to find dolmen in a hedge near Padirac, disguised as a large heap of stones and not helped by the fact that the thing is still mostly within its mound.
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Log Text: I couldn’t find this dolmen originally, and wondered whether it had been destroyed, as the fields here have recently been substantially re-arranged. I wondered whether I had found the sad remains in one of the hedges, and was about to give up, before I looked through a gap in the hedge. On the other side of the hedge I found the dolmen, disguised as a large heap of stones by the fact that the thing is still mostly within its mound. A capstone sits on two upright sideslabs, sticking out of the mound towards a caravan park on what is probably private land.
Gisement de Fieux
Trip No.203 Entry No.122 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Cave or Rock Shelter
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Gisement de Fieux submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Although signposted, and with a car parking area, I was not sure what this was while I was visiting, except for a big hole in the ground, and some little holes also, with excavations going on.
I later found out that it is an ancient settlement and encampment for mammoth hunters.
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Log Text: Excavations are being done here, and planning permission for a visitor centre with shop and toilets applied for. I was not sure what is here while I was visiting, except for a big hole in the ground, and some little holes also. I later find out that it is an ancient settlement and encampment for mammoth hunters.
Dolmen des Barrières 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.121 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen des Barrières 2 submitted by thecaptain on 7th Jan 2006. The remains of this nice freestanding dolmen are to be found in a little tended garden like area near to the Barrières farm, to the northwest of the village of Miers in Lot.
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Log Text: This nice freestanding dolmen is to be found in a little tended garden like area near to the Barrières farm. There are no signs of a mound around it, no doubt all the stone having been used in construction of the farm and its walls. It was probably once similar to the nearby Pierre Levée, but is now just a 3 metres square capstone doing a balancing act on one side and one end stone from the rectangular chamber.
Dolmen dit la Pierre Levée (Lecusses)
Trip No.203 Entry No.120 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen dit la Pierre Levée (Lecusses) submitted by thecaptain on 7th Jan 2006. A nice dolmen still within its large mound which can be found to the northwest of the Barrières farm, to the northwest of the village of Miers, in Lot.
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Log Text: Another beauty, this time almost completely still within its mound, which is about 25 metres in diameter and a couple of metres high. The single chamber is about 3 m by 1.5 metres, and covered by what must have been a shaped capstone, about 4 by 2.5 metres and very rectangular. This one is a bit of a long walk from anywhere, but it is signposted.
Dolmen du Pech Cayrou
Trip No.203 Entry No.119 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
Dolmen du Pech Cayrou submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen's a bit of a walk up a track and then into a field, to the east of the small road between Miers and Floirac, but well worth the effort.
Apart from the orchids everywhere, there were the most amazing and vividly coloured butterflies all around this dolmen, and some fantastic views over the Dordogne river valley to the north.
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Log Text: This one's a bit of a walk up a track and then into a field, but well worth the small effort. Its almost totally enclosed within its mound, with just the large 4 by 3 metres capstone showing above the ground, except to one side where the chamber has been dug into. Most of the chamber is obscured by a large sideslab which has fallen into it, so its difficult to make anything out here.
Apart from the by now normal orchids everywhere, there are the most amazing and vividly coloured butterflies all around this dolmen, and some fantastic views over the Dordogne river valley to the north. There is another mound close by, but thickly covered by bushes and scrub. I could see no obvious remains of a dolmen there, but I wouldnt be surprised if it was one.
Dolmen de Ressegayre
Trip No.203 Entry No.118 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen de Ressegayre submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. A slightly bigger than average dolmen for round here, and still mostly within its mound, this one can be found in a bit of scrubland just off the road between Miers and Floirac, although it took a fair bit of looking.
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Log Text: A slightly bigger than average dolmen for round here, and still mostly within its mound, this one can be found in a bit of scrubland just off the road between Miers and Floirac, although it took a fair bit of looking.
The capstone is about 3.5 by 3 metres, and is sitting only on some fairly basic supports, just off the ground. I cannot make out the chamber below, or its inside the mound still.
Its lovely here, with insects and birds chirrping and tweeting, with a cuckoo going at full tilt, and loads of wildflowers everywhere. I have just seen two sorts of orchid which I haven't seen before. From some research after my visit, I learn that this is perhaps not a dolmen, but a capstone in the process of being extracted and moved. However, if this is the case, why the mound ?
Dolmen de Candare 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.116 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen de Candare 1 submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. Tiny little dolmen sitting on the remains of its mound, under a bush just to the south of the road between Miers and Floirac.
Not far from this dolmen is a peculiar, almost spherical black stone which looks most out of place, although I dont seem to have a photograph of it.
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Log Text: Tiny little dolmen sitting on the remains of its mound, under a bush just to the south of the road between Miers and Floirac. It has a rectangular chamber, less than 2 by 1 metre in size, with the entrance facing 060°. Not far from this dolmen is a peculiar, almost spherical black stone which looks most out of place.
Dolmen dit Peyrebru (Miers)
Trip No.203 Entry No.115 Date Added: 7th Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Lot (46))
Visited: Yes on 23rd May 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Dolmen dit Peyrebru (Miers) submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jan 2006. This dolmen is a little beauty, about 50 metres up a track from the road between Miers and Floirac.
Still sitting on top of a fairly large oval mound.
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Log Text: This one's a little beauty, about 50 metres up a track from the road between Miers and Floirac. Still sitting on top of its mound, 18 metres in diameter, it has a 2.5 by 1.5 metres chamber with a single slanted capstone. The chamber opens eastwards on an alignment of 118°.