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La Draille Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.189 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 3
La Draille dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 10th Mar 2009. Seen here in its environment, the dolmen is contained within a large mound of stones with a drystone wall built over the top of it.
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Log Text: Just to the north of the little town of Viols-le-Fort, take the little road towards Cazarils, and park by a little clearing in the wood after about 1.5 km, not quite at the top of the hill. Here there is a footpath into the woods, well marked with blue markers. Follow this zig-zag path for about 300 metres and you soon find the nice little Cazarils tombe ovale 1, with a bit further on the second one. At this point the blue paint marker points have become very faint, and are very hard to follow, and the path could go anywhere in this scrub. Take a track to the right, and after about 150 metres of zig zagging about through the scrub and over difficult loose stone you should reach this dolmen. Watch out in particular for a large pot hole before you get there, it looks to be very deep.
The dolmen is contained within a large mound of stones with a drystone wall built over the top of it. The chamber still has a capstone but is drystone walled, about 5m long by 2 m wide. It has a very long entrance passageway which is slab lined, and about 7 metres in length, leading off towards the south west at about 235° again. This number keeps cropping up around these parts.
Carrières Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.190 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 4
Carrières dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 10th Mar 2009. In the woods beyond an old disused little quarry, can be found the remains of this dolmen, with its massive backslab giving its position away.
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Log Text: Just outside the little town of Viols-le-Fort, to the west, take the road south towards the quarry. After 300 m the road either enters the quarry or goes around to the left. Park here. In the woods just to the right, beyond an old disused little quarry can be found the remains of this dolmen, with its massive backslab giving its position away. It is in a large mound of stones, and got lots of rubbish strewn about all over it.
The massive chamber is about 4 metres square, and apart from the 6 metre by 3 metre high backslab, is made using drystone vaulting. There seems to be an anti-chamber, 2m by 2m before an entry passageway opening west at about 250°, bu it is a bit of a mess at this end. There appears to be a ring of large slabs around the outside. Apart from all the junk, this would be a pretty impressive monument, and would be a prime contender for some sort of restoration.
Ginestous menhir 7
Trip No.205 Entry No.183 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Log Text: Ginestous menhir 7 remains as a small stump, which can be seen at the edge of the little road which leads up to the chateau, just uphill from the corner after the railway crossing.
Dolmen de Cambous
Trip No.205 Entry No.186 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Yes on 20th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen de Cambous submitted by regina on 20th Jan 2009. Cambous dolmens
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Log Text: Just outside the ancient village take a path eastwards along the edge of the wood from near to the sheep pond for about 200 metres, and you will get to this dolmen. There is a round cairn of stones about 10 metres in diameter, with two concentric circles of dressed stone around it. At the centre is a chamber, made with drystone walling except for the backstone and two entrance stones, but it is not very big at about 2m by 1m. There is no sign of any capstone.
Viols Musée de Préhistoire
Trip No.205 Entry No.191 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Museum
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 20th Sep 2005
Log Text: Once a prehistory museum in the little town of Viols-le-Fort, but now closed with the building used for something else. The collection includes the statue menhir found at nearby prehistoric village of Truc de Marti.
Truc de Marti
Trip No.205 Entry No.192 Date Added: 25th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Hérault (34))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 20th Sep 2005
Truc de Marti tombe ovale submitted by johnstone on 30th Mar 2020. Tombe #3, June 26, 2000
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Log Text: I went to have a look at this hilltop site, but time was getting on, and I could find no quick way up to the top of the hill, which has the remains of a prehistoric village and up to 9 burial chambers on it. I had a look, but could see nothing resembling a path at all, and the place was all very overgrown with rough scrub. I decided that I would probably get lost up there, so I headed off to find a campsite.
Lacam de Peyrarines
Trip No.205 Entry No.162 Date Added: 15th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Lacam de Peyrarines submitted by thecaptain on 6th Oct 2005. Lacam de Peyrarines. A fantastic proper stone circle in France.
The stones arcing away in the southwest sector
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Log Text: Take the road towards Blandas from Montdardier, and after a few kilometres there is a big junction of ways. About 600 metres down the road towards Blandas from the junction, and in the field to the right can be seen this tremendous cromlech.
This is a proper circle of stones, with 52 standing stones up to about 1.8 metres high making a circle of about 120 metres diameter. At the centre is a large menhir, well over two metres high. There are gaps in the circle, and several more stones which were possibly part of the circle are laying down. The stones which make up the circle are all different shapes and sizes, of this fragile and pockmarked limestone. There are tall thin ones, big rectangular stumps, short squat blocks, diamonds, triangles, slanted top stones and a few almonds.
Just sat at the centre of this circle looking at all the stones around me it feels wonderful. One of the stones has like a giant finger pointing upwards. One of them is full of holes (number 35 in my counting !). Most of them are very evenly spaced, but it is not all that way. This really is a special place. Most of the stones are of the local crumbly flaky pale limestone, but not all, as a few of the large stones are a dark brown gritty sort of rock.
Menhir de Landre 1
Trip No.205 Entry No.163 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 19th Sep 2005
Menhir de Landre 1 submitted by thecaptain on 1st Aug 2008. This menhir stands up on top of its little hillock, about 70 metres to the side of the road.
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Log Text: From the Planas junction, take the small road towards Le Landre. After a couple of kilometres, just after passing over the brow of a hill, and you can see this menhir up on top of its little hillock, about 70 metres to the left of the road. It was all well fenced in when I visited, behind a little cropped field, so I couldn't get to the stone. It looks about 2.5 metres tall, and leans at quite an angle. Splendid views from here to the north, and the Cevennes.
Lacam de Rogues 1
Trip No.205 Entry No.174 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 1 Ambience 2 Access 4
Lacam de Rogues 1 submitted by thecaptain on 3rd Dec 2009. The first Cromlech de Rogues.
There is not much here to be seen, but there are a few large lumps of stone laying around, and with an eye of faith, an arc can possibly be made out with some of them.
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Log Text: From the main road passing the village of Rogues, take the dirt track leading northwest from near the electrical transformer, opposite the road to the village. After 300 metres walking down this track, there is a little mound on the right side, of which the centre has been dug out. To the other side of the track here are the remains of the first Cromlech de Rogues. There is not much here to be seen, but there are a few larger lumps of stone laying around, and with an eye of faith, an arc can possibly be made out with some of them.
Oppidum de la Blacarède
Trip No.205 Entry No.176 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Ancient Village or Settlement
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 19th Sep 2005
Oppidum de la Blacarède submitted by thecaptain on 3rd Dec 2009. To the northeast of the village of Rogues is a large rounded hill with remains of an Oppidum on the top.
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Log Text: Just to the northeast of the village of Rogues is a large rounded hill with remains of an Oppidum on the top.
Ciste de Lacam
Trip No.205 Entry No.173 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
Ciste de Lacam submitted by thecaptain on 5th Dec 2009. After 300 metres walking down this track, there is a little mound on the right side, of which the centre has been dug out.
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Log Text: From the main road passing the village of Rogues, take the dirt track leading northwest from near the electrical transformer, opposite the road to the village. After 300 metres walking down this track, there is a little mound on the right side, of which the centre has been dug out. Inside can be seen the slab stone remains of a central burial cist. Probably never a full dolmen, but maybe a later iron age burial. None of the slabs are more than 50cm in length.
Lacam de Rogues 2
Trip No.205 Entry No.175 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 5 Access 3
Lacam de Rogues 2 submitted by thecaptain on 6th Dec 2009. The central pillar is the only stone of this circle still standing, and it is not much more than a metre high.
The circle of stones around it is about 90 metres in diameter, and there are many stones remaining, but all fallen and crumbling, as is the wont of this fragile pale limestone.
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Log Text: From the main road passing the village of Rogues, take the dirt track leading northwest from near the electrical transformer, opposite the road to the village. Walk about 600 metres along this track, always keeping to the right when there is a choice. There is then a little cultivated field in the valley to the right, go around this and to the top of the higher ground beyond it, and continue for another 300 metres.
At the highest point is a little tree growing, with the central pillar for this cromlech standing beside it. This central pillar is the only stone of this circle still standing, and it is not much more than a metre high. The circle of stones around it is about 90 metres in diameter, and there are many stones remaining, but all fallen and crumbling, as is the wont of this fragile pale limestone. I would imagine there to be bits of at least 30 stones still in evidence, most of them being in the northern half of the circle. The southern half is practically barren, and there has been a wall, or field clearance line of stones created where a big one of the circle would have been.
Apart from the cold wind blowing across this plateau, the clouds have now mostly cleared, and it is becoming a clear blue sky with great visibility. It really is special up here, with magnificent views all around over the Causse, with hills and mountains in the distance all around. The Cevennes to the north look particularly enchanting in the low golden sunlight.
Dolmen de Barral
Trip No.205 Entry No.170 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen de Barral submitted by thecaptain on 9th Dec 2009. The dolmen is visible from the road, although a visit is not readily possible as it is on private property.
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Log Text: At the eastern edge of the hamlet of Barral, built into a wall to the north of the road, across a field, can be seen this little dolmen. The stones are easily visible from the road, although a visit was not really possible.
Trivalle menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.172 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 5
Trivalle menhir submitted by thecaptain on 9th Dec 2009. Named Trivalle since Roman times, because it is situated at the junction of three ancient trackways, this menhir stands about 1.7 metres tall, just outside the ancient village of Rogues.
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Log Text: Named Trivalle since Roman times, because it is situated at the junction of three ancient trackways, this menhir stands about 1.7 metres tall, just outside the ancient village of Rogues, on the road west towards Blandas, not far from the church.
Arques Dolmen
Trip No.205 Entry No.165 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Arques Dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 9th Dec 2009. The remains of this fairly large dolmen are just off the road, and still mostly within a fairly large tumulus.
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Log Text: This dolmen can be found just to the left of the road west from Planas towards Le Quintanel, turning left just before you reach Le Landre and continuing for about a kilometre until you pass the brow of a hill.
The remains of this fairly large dolmen are just off the road, and still mostly within a fairly large tumulus. The back stone and two side slabs are in position, but the capstone is dislodged to one side. The chamber is 3 metres long by 2.5 metres wide, and would probably have been large enough to stand in. There is the remains of a 7 metre long by 0.7 metre wide entry passage through the tumulus, which opens, as they all seem to do round here, towards the southwest, at 237°.
Lacam de la Rigalderie 2
Trip No.205 Entry No.169 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Stone Circle
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 1 Access 3
Lacam de la Rigalderie 2 submitted by thecaptain on 10th Dec 2009. There is supposedly another stone circle near to the top of the hill, but in a ruinous state.
I had a good look around, but with all the bushes and undergrowth growing near the top of the hill, there was nothing that I could find which could be said to be the remains of a stone circle.
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Log Text: There is supposedly another stone circle near to the top of the hill, but in a ruinous state. I had a good look around, but with all the bushes and undergrowth growing here near the top of the hill, there was nothing that I could find which could be said to be the remains of a stone circle.
Combes Menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.166 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Combes menhir submitted by thecaptain on 10th Dec 2009. About a kilometre from the Arques dolmen, and near to the road can be found this superb menhir, which has been re-erected in a concrete base.
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Log Text: About a kilometre further on from the Arques dolmen, and just to the left of the road can be found this superb menhir, which has been re-erected in a concrete base. It stands 3 metres tall, and is made of the most wonderfully weathered piece of limestone, full of holes and divots, with moss and lichens growing everywhere. It is quite a character.
Menhir de Planàs
Trip No.205 Entry No.160 Date Added: 15th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5
Menhir de Planàs submitted by theCaptain on 12th Dec 2009. Near the entry to the Planàs Dolmen, and laying on the tumulus, is a lovely fallen menhir.
It is about 2 metres long and 1 metre wide, and is a lovely almond shaped stone.
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Log Text: Near the entry to the Planàs Dolmen, and laying on the tumulus, is a lovely fallen menhir, which possibly acted as a marker. Its about 2 metres long and 1 metre wide, and a lovely almond shaped stone. Pity it hasn’t been stood up when the dolmen restoration was done.
Serre de la Gleisa
Trip No.205 Entry No.158 Date Added: 15th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 3
Serre de la Gleisa submitted by theCaptain on 12th Dec 2009. Serre de la Gleisa menhir is perhaps 100 metres from the road and well fenced in, so I couldnt get to it.
It looks about 2.5 metres tall, and slab shaped.
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Log Text: Take the road towards Blandas from Montdardier, and after a few kilometres there is a big junction of ways. On the left, 100 metres or so before the junction, up the hill, can be seen this menhir, perhaps 100 metres from the road and well fenced in, so I couldn't get to it. It looks about 2.5 metres tall, and slab shaped.
Avernat menhir
Trip No.205 Entry No.167 Date Added: 24th Nov 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Languedoc:Gard (30))
Visited: Yes on 19th Sep 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Avernat menhir submitted by thecaptain on 15th Dec 2009. The northern face of the menhir.
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Log Text: This fine chap stands proudly at the junction of the roads D.158 and D.158a from Blandas to Le Landre and Quintanelles, just a couple of hundred metres from its neighbour, the menhir de Combes. It is very similar in both size and shape, 3 metres tall, except this one is not so superbly weathered. I am not sure whether it is in its original place here at the road junction or not.