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Polissoirs des Ortures
Trip No.204 Entry No.245 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Near the hamlet of Les Ortures, in the Bois Tranzy, there is a little signposted footpath near to the reservoirs. Along this path can be found two rock outcrops, the tops of which have been used for polishing stone tools. One of the two rocks has several grooves in it, while the other has a polishing basin.
La Roche au Diable (Paley)
Trip No.204 Entry No.246 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Polissoir
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Log Text: Marked near to the menhir is a polissoir stone, in the woods down by the little river. I could find no obvious signpost or footpath towards where it is marked, and having now found out how difficult to find some of these polissoir stones are to find, I didnt spend any time looking.
Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres
Trip No.204 Entry No.249 Date Added: 6th Sep 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Seine-et-Marne 77)
Visited: Couldn't find on 6th Aug 2005
Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres submitted by holger_rix on 24th May 2016. Menhir de Tousson (Menhir dit la Pierre aux Prêtres)
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Log Text: I could find nowhere to stop beside a nasty busy road to go and look for this stone. I could see nothing obvious.
Vielle Cote Dolmen
Trip No.202 Entry No.95 Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Ile-de-France:Val-d'Oise (95))
Visited: Yes on 4th May 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 3
Vielle Cote Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Oct 2005. Vielle Cote Dolmen
A much ruined trench grave about 10 metres in length.
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Log Text: A much ruined trench grave about 10 metres long and 2 metres wide with an orientation of 292° looking down the hill can be found dug into the hillside in a field of crops along a lane at the top of a ridge about 400 metres south from the little lane which climbs eastwards from the village. Although marked on my ign map there are no signs or any other items to suggest its presence. Parking is available at the junction of the lane and track.
Morrel das Fadas
Trip No.200 Entry No.62 Date Added: 18th Jun 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 13th Aug 2000. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4
Morrel das Fadas submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. The Dolmen des Fades, near to the village of Pepieux, in the Minervois region of Aude, southwest France
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Log Text: Day out from Toulouse to explore Minerve ancient village, Rock tunnels, Morrel das Fadas, St Eugene. On a little hill covered in pines to the south of the D52 road to the northeast of Carcassonne is found the remains of this teriffic allée couverte, the hill of the fairies, said to be the largest in southern France.
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène
Trip No.205 Entry No.103 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 4 Access 4
Allée Couverte de Saint-Eugène submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2003. This is what I think is described as les Allees Couvertes de Saint- Eugene, .
However, 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.
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Log Text: I have now twice found this only by luck. This time I took a wrong turning (one road too soon) and ended up on a stone track across private land where I could not turn round to go back out, and then I saw a little sign to dolmen, up the hillside I remember. I managed to park the van in a wider part of the track about 500 metres away, and went back on foot to look for the site. Quite how one is meant to get here properly, I do not know !
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. The main chamber is 15 metres long, lined with large slabs, and opens to the southeast at 155°. At the back end it is 4 metres wide, and 5.5 m from the end is the remnants of a stone partition within which the remains of portal entranceway can be seen. The next section is 6 metres long, tapering to 2.5 metres wide, up to the remains of another partition with entranceway. This leaves just 3 metres of tapering corridor to the entrance in the circular wall, just 1 metre in width. Unfortunately there are no cover stones, and the entrance portals are very damaged, to the extent of being almost non existant. In the stone mound there can be seen the remains of two further intermediate circling walls, the first a U shape around the chamber, and the second a concentric circle within the outside wall.
Carcassonne - La Cité
Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Aude (11))
Visited: Yes on 15th Sep 1978
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: Ancient citadel which goes back as far as time. Although the main remains of this fantastic fairy story city are now medieval 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.
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.
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.
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
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.