Lou Couraus Cromlechs

Trip No.205  Entry No.59  Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Yes on 7th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 3

Log Text: High up above the Ossau valley above the village of Bielle can be found several circles of stones, on a little shelf of land halfway up the mountainside, and in a wonderful viewpoint above the valley. From the village take the road up towards Col de Marie Blanc, and park at the Chapelle de Houndas after about 5 kilometres, and about 8 km before the Col. From here the cromlechs are easily reached, on a signposted walk along mountain trackways. Allow three hours for the return visit round the signposted footpath.

Unfortunately, the day I am here is not good for the weather, and I am mostly enveloped in cloud, so I am not getting the fantastic views, in fact most of my walk up the visibility is only 50 metres, which is a pity, because the big mountains around Col D'Aubisque should all be visible from here. After following the trackway for a couple of kilometres, the cromlechs are found a short distance up a steepish path to the left, and after lots of exploring, I counted what I thought to be 16 circles of various sizes.

The first cromlech I found, which I shall call Cromlech A (4), is right beside the track, and has a diameter of 6 metres, with 26 stones still in position, mostly contiguous around the outside, but with about 4 or 5 gaps. Within the circle are lots more stones, and perhaps the remnants of a central burial area, circular and about one metre in diameter. It is of course possible that these stones are the remains of a cairn, and the circular structure is a fluke (although after seeing more of these Pyrenean cromlechs later on my tour, the remains of burial cairns and cists in the centre of these circles is fairly common). A further look suggests that it may have had an entrance to the east, on 065°, between two larger white stones, with a dark one in between. This circle reminded me in many ways of that at Belstone on Dartmoor.

Cromlech B (2). This is a smaller circle, but very well formed, 4 metres in diameter, consisting of about 20 stones, with many more smaller pieces in place. The largest stone is about 0.7 metres high.

Cromlech C (1). This is about 9 metres in diameter with about 18 stones in place, with many more fallen. Some of these stones stand over a metre in height. The ground within is stony and slightly raised, suggesting the remains of a cairn. This circle is just 3 metres away from circle B at the closest point.

Cromlech D and more (6 to 15). Walking eastwards along the shelf of land from Cromlech A for 50 metres, and in a place where some of the vegetation has been cleared back can be seen many more circles of stone. It is not easy to count them, as although some are complete, several are partial, and many are buried in the undergrowth. Suffice to say that there are about a dozen circles here, made with smaller stones, and ranging in diameter from 2.5 metres to 5 metres. What I shall call circle 8 is a nicely formed circle 5 metres in diameter and with about 24 readily identifiable stones. It doesn't photograph well as it is underneath some bushes.

At last, after sitting and spending ages up here, the cloud has risen above me, and in fact there are patches of blue sky, although not as yet above the mountains. Its really beautiful up here, with birdies tweeting and bells ringing all around. How much longer should I stay though ? Perhaps its better to be getting back now, its gone 3:00pm. Ahhh, the cows have arrived. I can go back now the cows have come home ! Take many more pictures with the cows n them, the stones make good scratching posts. I get down to the van at 4:00, and its now mostly sunny. Time to tackle Aubisque and Soulor.

Calhau de Teberno Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.57  Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Yes on 6th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: This dolmen can be found in a nice little landscaped bit of parkland, sandwiched between the D.920 road and the railway line at the outskirts of the village of Buzy a couple of kilometres to the north of Arudy. There are many other rocks in the park, which have probably all been placed as features, but perhaps one or two are related to the dolmen.

It sits on top of a little hillock, which I wonder whether these are the remains of a large tumulus ? The chamber is largely below the level of the surrounding ground. The dolmen has a lovely curvy capstone sitting on top of a chamber 4 metres long by 1,5 metres wide, with nicely positioned side slabs each side (3 one side, 4 the other). There is a well fitted backstone, and the chamber opens to the southeast on an alignment of 135°, but perhaps more importantly this is looking directly towards the big gap in the mountains, which is the entry to the Ossau valley.

If it wasn't for the bad weather, and all the trees around, this dolmen would have superb views. I think that I later learn that the dolmen was possibly moved to its current position when the railway was constructed.

Dolmen de Barzun

Trip No.205  Entry No.56  Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Couldn't find

Log Text: My maps have nothing marked in detail as to the whereabouts of this dolmen, and I could find no details or signs to it in the village. Somehow I didn’t find this dolmen which I learned later is pretty much in the centre of the village in a little square. Doh !

Turoum-Bouchous Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.58  Date Added: 25th Oct 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Aquitaine:Pyrénées-Atlantiques 64)
Visited: Couldn't find on 7th Sep 2005

Log Text: I couldn’t find any evidence on any maps I had, and asked at the tourist information office and national park centre, but nobody knew anything about this dolmen.

Tombe du Capitaine

Trip No.205  Entry No.250  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3

Log Text: In a field to the west of the hamlet of Bouzentes, a few kilometres to the south of St Flour, by the D.116 road to Tanavelle can be found this dolmen. It's about 800 metres walk down a signposted track from the road, just at the western edge of the hamlet, and was in a field of cows (and a bull I belatedly noticed) when I visited. The single capstone, with cupules and engraved lines, sits on top of two side supports amongst a pile of loose stone in the middle of the field.

Uh Oh, time to go. The bull is getting quite inquisitive. Quick exit from the field over the fence, as far from Tauro as possible ! Well, I did have to come here, but I don't want it to become this Captain's tomb ! The dolmen is made from large basalt blocks, brought here from over a kilometre away. In excavations made in the 19th century, amongst the usual pottery sherds, flints and bones was found a polished axe. There are lovely big views all around from here.

Bargueyrac Menhir

Trip No.205  Entry No.256  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: About half a kilometre further west along the D.990 road can be found this little menhir, right beside the road and with a little sign. Its only about 1.3 metres tall basalt, and in the past has obviously had something stuck on top, probably a cross, due to the hole which can be seen drilled into it.

La Table au Loup

Trip No.205  Entry No.255  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: West of the village of Sériers, along the new D.990 road towards Pierrefort, about 500 metres from the junction with the D.921 is a sign for the dolmen. It is then about an 800 metre walk along a signposted gravel trackway across marshy land before you reach the dolmen, or as I found, a fenced off plastic sheeting covered area! The dolmen was undergoing excavation, and apart from a large side slab sticking up out of the middle, and obvious remains of a mound, there was nothing I could see here.

Pierre Levée (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.251  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Beside the D.44 road west of St Flour, near to the hamlet of Fraissinet can be found this megalithic collection of a standing stone and two dolmens, within 300 metres of each other. The menhir is about 2 metres tall, and it stands just to the west of the road. It consists of a nice lump of pointy topped basalt.

Pierre Levée dolmen 1 (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.252  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: The remains of this dolmen can be found just to the east of the D.44 road, about 30 metres from the menhir. There is still quite a respectable mound of small stones, diameter about 12 metres, surrounding the remains of the dolmen, but the megalithic chamber has been largely destroyed, leaving not much more than a hollow in the centre of the tumulus. One large side slab and an entry stone are all that obviously remain in place.

Menhir de la Croix-Grosse

Trip No.205  Entry No.254  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5

Log Text: This christianised menhir stands just on the western outskirts of the village of Sériers, and is signposted from there as Menhir Christianisée, and is along the road to Peyrelade (no doubt once home to its own megalith). There is a large basalt carved cross sat on top of a superb column of christalline basalt, octagonal and well over 2 metres high. With its cross, it stands a good 3.5 metres tall. This really is a lovely monument, the basalt column is perfectly upright, and always has been, its never been restored. Apparently the column must have been brought here from several kilometres away, so its obviously at a once very special place.

Bois-Grand Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.257  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Just to the south of the village of Les Ternes, the new D.921 road goes up a fairly steep hill. On the right, halfway up the hill is a little layby and picnic table, with a sign to this dolmen, which can then be found less than 50 metres up the trackway from the layby. It is right beside the road, and part of its mound of stones has been cut away. The dolmen has a large and thick capstone, 3.5 metres by 2.5 metres, sitting on top of a little chamber, 2m by 1m, which has two side slabs and a back stone still nicely in place. The capstone looks much too large for the rest of the dolmen ! Around the dolmen are lots of loose basalt stones, obviously one a part of its cairn.

Dolmen du Chausse

Trip No.205  Entry No.258  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 4

Log Text: Signposted as tumulus from the village of Mons, just to the east of junction 28 of the A.75 Autoroute near to St Flour. The trackway leads you back over the A.75 and then about another 300 metres. It is probably possible to drive to it, but I parked and walked.

The little dolmen is still mostly contained within its large cairn of stones, except that it has been dug into from the southern side. The cairn is about 16 metres in diameter and 2 metres high, made of loose small volcanic rocks. The dolmen has a capstone 3m by 2m sat on top of a chamber 2m by 1m, with two side slabs but no obvious backstone.

The chamber is full of rocks, and opens southwards with fine views, spoiled slightly by the A.75 motorway screaming past ! A nice place to visit, with lots of yellow mullens growing on and around. Apparently there are many legends attached to this tomb, but I am not sure what any of them are.

Pierre Levée dolmen 2 (Villedieu)

Trip No.205  Entry No.253  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 4 Access 3

Log Text: Unfortunately, this cannot be reached from its near neighbours, and instead it has to be walked to quite a distance (about 1 km) from a point where you start the walk to the Tombe du Capitaine. It's a pleasant walk along a well signposted track, and then across a hilltop field.

The dolmen is in very poor condition, basically one large side slab in a hollow in the centre of its tumulus. However, the tumulus is in fine condition, about 15 metres in diameter and up to 1.5 metres in height. Around the outside at certain places it seems to be encircled with a sort of stone slab walling. This is in a lovely spot, and was well worth the effort to get to. I wouldn't be surprised if there was once another dolmen in this mound.

Plateau de Mons

Trip No.205  Entry No.259  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Barrow Cemetery Country: France (Auvergne:Cantal (15))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 26th Sep 2005

Log Text: On top of the plateau is a large collection of earthen barrows dating to the iron age which can be seen from the track.

Pierre du Tombeau

Trip No.205  Entry No.260  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir) Country: France (Auvergne:Puy-de-Dôme (63))
Visited: Yes on 26th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 2 Access 5

Log Text: Right in the middle of the village of Davayat, near to the traffic lights, this menhir resides in amongst the houses, and is half hidden in a garden yard. It is 4.8 metres high, leaning nicely, and is one of the biggest menhirs in the Auvergne region.

The menhir is perhaps lucky to survive right here between the houses, and in many respects perhaps owes its survival to it being seen as an important and sacred monument throughout history by the inhabitants of the village. There was once another large menhir nearby, but traces of this can no longer be found, it falling victim to agricultural "progress".

La Pierre Levée (Graçay)

Trip No.205  Entry No.266  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Cher (18))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 27th Sep 2005

Log Text: Just to the south of the D.68 road between Graçay and Nohant-en-Graçay, near to the hamlet of Les Villaines can be seen the remains of this dolmen, about 100 metres from the road in a field. When I was here, the field had been recently planted, so I did not venture any nearer to the dolmen. It was hard to make out any details, but one capstone can be seen to be still raised above the ground on its supports.

Tréfoux deux menhirs

Trip No.205  Entry No.267  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Standing Stones Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: Marked on my ign map to the southeast of Bagneux are menhirs. Driving along the little road that passes them is lots of what looks like natural stone outcropping, and perhaps the remains of a dolmen. However, near to a corner in the road are two standing rocks, which are clearly not naturally like that. One is about 1 metre tall, the other about 1.2 metres tall. Around them are many more rocks. It is not difficult to see what is perhaps an alignment of 5 or 6 rocks with others fallen. Or perhaps it is the remains of an allée couverte type structure. I am not sure exactly what is going on here, but it is a nice spot in the forest. A bit further along the road to the west is what seems to be the remains of another fallen menhir or two.

Pierre Levée (Liniez)

Trip No.205  Entry No.264  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5

Log Text: Just outside the village of Liniez, along the D.926 road towards Vatan, and to the right of the road can be seen the remains of this allée couverte. It was probably an Angevin type allée couverte, but there are no obvious remains of the porchway. The remains of the chamber are 10 metres long by 4 metres wide, and it was probably covered by four capstones, of which three remain in various positions, from still in place at the back end, sloping in the middle and flat on the ground at the front. Several side slabs remain, as does the backslab, and there is evidence of a possible internal partition, although it could be bits of broken capstone. The back cell of the chamber is still all nicely erect, making this a pleasant monument to visit. It is all orientated towards the east at 070°.

Pierre Couverte de Bué

Trip No.205  Entry No.269  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 5 Access 4

Log Text: A couple of kilometres to the southeast of the village of Bagneux near to the hamlet of Bué, can be found this dolmen in a lovely situation in the forest. The dolmen is well signposted from all around, and from a parking place at Bué it is about 400 metres walk. The large capstone, 6m by 4m sits on top of a chamber 5m by 3m. It has a backstone and six sidestones in various positions of uprightness. The capstone is between 1 and 1.5 metres above the ground.

It has got its own bench nearby on which to sit and contemplate, with falling acorns a hazard, and a woodpecker pecking away amongst other things. This really is a lovely spot, and so gets a 5 for ambience.

I will make this my last megalithic site on my 6 months trip round France, it really is a nice place to finish on, and an unexpected dolmen at that.

It is now 2:30pm, and I really ought to be getting on driving back towards my sister's. Romorantin, Blois (roadworks), Vendome (Roadworks, big crane, school traffic), St-Calais (terrible traffic), Le Mans (rain, traffic jams), Alencon (slow traffic), Argentan, Flers (dug up, closed roads, diversions within diversions). It takes forever to find Vire, now in the complete dark, St-Lo (more diversions) and finally back to Sara's at about 9:30pm. I was amazed I didn't get tired or dozy at all while driving. Parked with 117630 km on the clock, 545 for today. Sausages and eggs (yummy), large beer, then to bed after seeing a depressing news on the telly. I've not missed missing all the bad news from around the world while away in my campervan.

La Pierre Dolmen

Trip No.205  Entry No.261  Date Added: 13th Dec 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen Country: France (Centre:Indre (36))
Visited: Yes on 27th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 4

Log Text: It was a bit of a struggle to find this, due to several of the roads being closed for some reason. However, take the D.23 road southwest from Moulins-sur-Céphons towards St Martin-de-Lamps. About midway between the two is the hamlet of La Pierre, and there are signs to the dolmen. It is about 800 metres walk from the road, round the back of the houses.

What I found is probably the remains of an Angevin dolmen with a large 6 m by 3 m chamber, made with a single backstone, two sidestones each side with two capstones, the rear one in place, the forward one broken and fallen into the chamber. There are signs of an entry portal, now all a bit broken. Some of the stones are massive thick chunks, not nice slim slabs.