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Sainte-Barbe alignement
Trip No.203 Entry No.434 Date Added: 23rd May 2020
Site Type: Multiple Stone Rows / Avenue
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 15th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Sainte-Barbe alignement submitted by greywether on 30th Jun 2005.
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Log Text: This is an interesting and strange place, slightly off the tourist trails to the west of the D.781 Carnac to Erdeven road near to the village of Ste Barbe. It seems to be two long, widely spaced rows of menhirs heading off parallel to each other at 120°, approximately 40 metres apart from each other. At the western end is a row of really massive stones running across between the rows, normal to them, creating a sort of horseshoe shape. There are just 4 stones, but two of them are the biggest standing stones I have seen anywhere, more than 5 metres in height, possibly 4 to 5 metres in width, and up to 2 metres thick. These must have taken some effort to get into position. It has probably all been altered over the years, and walls have been built into it, but its all most impressive.
Further walking around makes me think that it might not have been a massive horseshoe shape at all, as the presence of other stones in hedges etc suggests that there may have been more parallel lines of stones, about equally spaced either side. Its an intriguing place. I later read that there was once eight lines of stones here, in what was once a set of alignments of major importance. The weather is horribly humid at the moment.
Sainte Marguerite Au Pé Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.17 Date Added: 1st Apr 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Loire-Atlantique)
Visited: Yes on 14th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Sainte Marguerite Au Pé Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 18th Nov 2005. St Marc cromlech, a little circle of stones about 5 metres in diameter near St Nazaire.
It’s the remains of a burial chamber, rather than a proper stone circle.
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Log Text: While at Dissignac there was a map showing a cycle ride which passed a cromlech a couple of kilometres to the south along Route du Cromlech so I went to have a look. Its easily found just north of the road junction and in a little piece of land between houses with its own signpost outside. It’s a little circle of stones about 5 metres in diameter and I suspect it’s the remains of a burial chamber indeed there seems to be an inner bit still with a capstone.
Saint-Uzec menhir
Trip No.203 Entry No.562 Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 24th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Saint-Uzec menhir submitted by thecaptain on 15th Jan 2005. Saint-Uzec menhir.
More than 6 metres tall, this menhir was carved in 1674 when the nearby chapel was built.
As one guide book said at the time, the menhir is decorated with the roughly hewn instruments of passion !
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Log Text: Signposted from all around, and with its own parking area, this is a truly massive menhir in all senses. It must be about 6 metres tall or more, and impressively bulky in its other dimensions also. But its crowning glory is the granite cross on top, and also the tremendous carvings on its front (southern) face, which show scenes from the bible and the "roughly hewn instruments of passion". In the past it was also painted.
The menhir's back face is lovely and weather worn, with lots of grooves running down it where the rain has run down. It is set in a little stone area complete with a little pillar for offerings. Outside the stone setting is a nice little garden area, with a tremendously colourful display when I was here - poppies, hydrangea, stocks and many others I did not know. This is a smashing place to visit, so long as you avoid the coach parties that are regularly brought here.
Saint-Uzec menhir
Trip No.214 Entry No.22 Date Added: 3rd Jun 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 17th Apr 2014. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Saint-Uzec menhir submitted by TheCaptain on 22nd Apr 2011. Its crowning glory is the way it has been christianised with the addition of a granite cross on top and carvings on its front (southern) face, which show scenes from the bible and the "roughly hewn instruments of passion".
In the past it was also painted. This was all done in 1674, when the nearby chapel was built.
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Log Text: Thought Dad would like to see this one, so chose this as the only megalithic site to specifically go look at after leaving Ploumenach about midday and driving round the coast road. We get here with nobody else around, the sky is a perfect blue and lots of birds chirrupping away. I think that when I have been here before it has either been dull grey sky, or with the sun in the wrong direction making photos bad, but today it is really looking terrific, with the carvings clearly showing up.
Dad seems very interested in why it is all carved like this, and it is significant that it is currently Easter holiday, and only yesterday somebody commented about my resurrection from Ile Carn. Although the carvings were all very clear, we could not be sure what they are all meant to represent, clearly neither of us are fully clued up on Catholic religion and its symbolism! Me being me, I particularly like the sun and the moon at the top of the stone. Fabulous.
Saint-Uzec menhir
Trip No.193 Entry No.16 Date Added: 13th Jul 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Côtes-D'Armor (22))
Visited: Yes on 30th May 1993
Saint-Uzec menhir submitted by TheCaptain on 22nd Apr 2011. Its crowning glory is the way it has been christianised with the addition of a granite cross on top and carvings on its front (southern) face, which show scenes from the bible and the "roughly hewn instruments of passion".
In the past it was also painted. This was all done in 1674, when the nearby chapel was built.
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Log Text: Cycling camping trip of north Brittany, day 2. Tregastel, Ile Grande, Tel Star Satellite place. Snake! Take lunch at the St Uzec menhir, where we have a lot of fun discussing the way it has been christianised with its roughly hewn instruments of passion, and some offerings left beside.
Saint-Pierre dolmen 2
Trip No.205 Entry No.213 Date Added: 30th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Couldn't find on 24th Sep 2005. My rating: Access 3
Dolmen de Saint-Pierre 2 submitted by ocdolmen on 29th Aug 2006. Dolmen de Saint-Pierre 2
This dolmen is located at forty meters from the dolmen1. It is preserved better.
Built like dolmen 1 with schist flagstones taken on the spot, it is approximately 2 meters long.
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Log Text: From the Col de St Pierre, several kilometres to the north of St Jean du Gard along the Corniche des Cevennes, take the PR11 footpath towards the summit of Roc St Pierre, and the orientation table. Along this path should be findable two dolmens. However, I walked all the way up the hill to the viewpoint, but found no dolmens. There are however, tremendous 360° views from the top though, and it is well worth the effort.
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,
Saint-Paul Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.39 Date Added: 17th Jun 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Midi:Tarn (81))
Visited: Yes on 2nd Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Saint-Paul Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 26th Jan 2006. Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, to the northwest of the village of Le Verdier along some tiny lanes, can be found this relatively large dolmen.
The massive capstone is a sort of triangular shape, with the pointed end at the back. The dolmen is all made of a very chalky white stone, which I am slightly surprised has survived this long.
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Log Text: Up in the hills covered with vineyards for the lovely Gaillac wine, to the northwest of the village of Le Verdier along some tiny lanes, can be found this relatively large dolmen. It is perhaps easier to reach by walking along the GR footpath along which it is signposted from the village, than trying to drive towards. However, I drove to a point in the hills to the northwest from where it was also signposted "dans le Bosquet", and then walked back towards the village. Unfortunately, not knowing the word Bosquet, I spent ages looking, assuming it was in a hedgerow or little wooded copse which could be see further along the trackway. This is not the case, and to find the dolmen do not follow the footpath, but look across the field to the south and it can be seen at the corner of the wood at the far side.
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. The massive capstone is a sort of triangular shape, with the pointed end at the back. The dolmen is all made of a very chalky white stone, which I am slightly surprised has survived this long.
Strange how when you know where things are, they are easy to find. Not only can you clearly see the dolmen from where I had parked, but I also passed a little sign towards it when walking down the footpath. Doh !
There also appears to be another large stone of some kind a bit further along the edge of the wood to the west, which I hadn't seen from when I was there, could this be the remains of another dolmen ? Dolmen de St Pierre ?
The view of the lovely fortified hilltop village of Castelnau-de-Montmiral in the distance to the south is splendid. Mmmm, I must now go and try some of the Gaillac fruit.
Saint-Michel tumulus
Trip No.203 Entry No.411 Date Added: 21st May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 14th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 2 Access 4
Saint-Michel tumulus submitted by thecaptain on 29th Oct 2004. Tumulus St Michel, just north of Carnac, Brittany.
This massive tumulus is 120m long and 12 metres high, with a chapel built on top of it. It is (or was when I was there in 1987) possible to visit inside the mound and see the two large chambers and many smaller stone lined cists.
Many artefacts were found during past excavations, lots of which can be found in the Carnac Museum.
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Log Text: Very old and big. Visits inside no longer available like they were in the 1980s.
Saint-Michel tumulus
Trip No.187 Entry No.36 Date Added: 27th May 2020
Site Type: Chambered Cairn
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Sep 1987. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 5
Saint-Michel tumulus submitted by DrewParsons on 7th Nov 2009. The locked south west entrance to the tumulus.
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Log Text: Cycling camping trip round Brittany. Day 4.
Get to visit inside the huge Tumulus St Michel, and see the ancient burial sections within it.
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
Saint-Hilaire Dolmen submitted by ocdolmen on 26th May 2009. Saint-Hilaire dolmen, nice passage tomb in Limousin region.
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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-Goulien stèles
Trip No.203 Entry No.480 Date Added: 26th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones
Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 18th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Saint-Goulien stèles submitted by theCaptain on 18th Jun 2014. The remains of no less than three granite stèles are to be found lined up in the churchyard at Goulien.
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Log Text: The remains of no less than three granite stèles are to be found lined up in the churchyard at Goulien. One is very small, one about 1.5 metres high and probably once used as a cross base. The third is 2.5 metres tall and has lovely grooves carved into it.
Saint-Gonvarc'h menhir
Trip No.203 Entry No.511 Date Added: 27th May 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 20th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 2
Saint-Gonvarc'h menhir submitted by thecaptain on 24th Jul 2009. The Pierre de St Gonvarc'h, or Mez menhir, can be seen across a couple of fields, and is another of the monster menhirs of the Léon region (Kings of Léon?).
Seen here from road along the "uphill" side.
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Log Text: The Pierre de St Gonvarc'h, or Mez menhir, can be seen across a couple of fields, and is another of the monster menhirs of this region (Leon). Comparing it to a nearby cow for size, it must be a good 6 metres tall, and has been beautifully shaped.
Saint-Etienne-du-Vauvray Menhir
Trip No.202 Entry No.91 Date Added: 30th Mar 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Normandie:Eure (27))
Visited: Yes on 4th May 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Saint-Etienne-du-Vauvray menhir submitted by thecaptain on 23rd Oct 2005. Saint-Etienne-du-Vauvray menhir, 3.5 metrws tall.
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Log Text: About a 3.5 metre tall menhir found right beside the roadside between St Etienne and Louviers. Once the road is found the menhir is easy ! The menhir has been moved from its original position which was where the railway now is on the other side of the road.
Saint-Denec Alignement de Menhirs
Trip No.203 Entry No.508 Date Added: 27th May 2020
Site Type: Stone Row / Alignment
Country: France (Bretagne:Finistère (29))
Visited: Yes on 20th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Saint-Denec alignement de menhirs submitted by theCaptain on 31st Jan 2012. There is also a rather large menhir like stone laying at the foot of one of the menhirs, and there are other large stones laying in the fields nearby. I wonder if there was once a lot more here in the way of alignements?
On closer inspection of the fallen stone it can be seen that it has carvings on it. Two axes and a couple of the bishops crook shaped symbols (crosses). Not clearly seen in picture.
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Log Text: The two St Dénec menhirs are standing in a field near to the farm of St Dénec. Both are about 3.5 to 4 metres high, but they are not nicely shaped and smoothed like most of the menhirs around here.
There is also a rather large menhir like stone laying at the foot of one of the menhirs, and there are other large stones laying in the fields nearby. I wonder if there was once a lot more here in the way of alignements?
On closer inspection of the fallen stone it can be seen that it has carvings on it. Two axes and a couple of the bishops crook shaped symbols (crosses). I was glad I went back for a second look after missing this first time round.
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
Saint Roch menhir submitted by thecaptain on 28th Jun 2006. This menhir can be found high up in the hills near St-Nectaire.
It's about 2 metres tall, and made from a hexagonal block of crystalline volcanic basalt.
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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.
Saint Fort Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.237 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4
Saint Fort Dolmen submitted by Nick- on 24th Sep 2005. Strange dolmen, here's me 1m93 (6'4) for scale. I have a feeling that the capstone has been 'replaced'. I might be completely wrong of course. Easy access, Dolmen is signposted in the village of St.Fort.
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Log Text: Signposted from the town of St Fort-sur-le-Ne, it is found about 1 kilometre to the east on top of a small hill amongst the Cognac vines. It is a real monster, looking like the skeletal remains of a dinosaur robot or something.
The chamber is 5 metres in length, by 2.5 metres wide, and the single, one metre thick capstone more than adequately covers that. It is held 2.5 metres high in the air by three large upright support stones, with the outline of the chamber having five more large stones in place.
Unfortunately, the poor thing suffers badly from graffitti, both written and carved, and it would seem to be used as a place for the local youth to come and drink, with empty bottles scattered all around. One of the side slabs has some strange carvings on it, perhaps a sort of window or entrance was once here, with the dolmen used as a house.
Sabatey Dolmen 2
Trip No.203 Entry No.226 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 4
Sabatey Dolmen 2 submitted by johnstone on 18th Jan 2018. Sabatey-2 the sad remains on Sep 8, 2015
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Log Text: Not the easiest dolmens to find, but they are signposted from the village of Bellefond to some degree, although a fair bit of guesswork is needed at certain junctions. Just to the left of Sabatey Farm, a gate opens into a field, from where you walk across to the woods, where the two dolmens can be seen on the right.
The first you find is Sabatey dolmen 2, which seems to mostly consist of a large pile of moss covered stones, with the remains of an allée-couverte sitting on top. A single remaining capstone has fallen, and the rest of the chamber is difficult to make out, but there are lots of large edge on stones present, possibly aligned on about 050°.
Sabatey Dolmen 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.227 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 5 Access 4
Sabatey Dolmen 1 submitted by thecaptain on 9th Jan 2006. Remains of two dolmens near to the village of Bellefond in Gironde.
Sabatey dolmen 1 is in the woods, and the remains of the allée-couverte on top are much more recogniseable tan its neighbour.
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Log Text: Not the easiest dolmens to find, but they are signposted from the village of Bellefond to some degree, although a fair bit of guesswork is needed at certain junctions. Just to the left of Sabatey Farm, a gate opens into a field, from where you walk across to the woods, where the two dolmens can be seen on the right.
Sabatey dolmen 1 is about 25 metres into the woods, and although it at first appears to be a similar jumble of stones, the remains of the allée-couverte on top are much more recogniseable. It is about 6 metres long by 1.5 metres wide, with one capstone in place and a couple more fallen, with the chamber oriented eastwards at 094°. The end closing stone has some cupules carved into it.
Runesto Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.393 Date Added: 14th May 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Bretagne:Morbihan (56))
Visited: Yes on 13th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Runesto dolmen submitted by TheCaptain on 14th Jun 2011. This dolmen is still mostly within it's mound, and in fact it has been cut down into with steps from the eastern side of the massive capstone.
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Log Text: This is a pleasant dolmen still mostly within its mound, and in fact it has been cut down into with steps from the eastern side of the massive capstone. The chamber is about 3 metres by 3 metres, and the single capstone is held up on eight remaining side support stones, with plenty of room to stand up within. There are no longer any remains of its entry passageway which would have run off towards the east.
There are traces of engravings including a fairly good axe on the stone nearest to the entrance. Just outside to the east are two other large stones, which are perhaps related, but perhaps not. The wall of the nearby house has many large stones within it, no doubt being once part of the tumulus.