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Dolmens de Bignon
Trip No.203 Entry No.231 Date Added: 10th Jul 2024
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Saw from a distance on 3rd Jun 2005
Dolmens de Bignon submitted by thecaptain on 9th Jan 2006. Supposedly there is one large allée-couverte and two simple dolmens to be found, and I must have spent over an hour looking along all tracks and in all fields here.
The best I found is this pile of stones in the middle of a field - could it be one of the small dolmens under there ?
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Log Text: I knew things were going too well this morning. I found Frontenac, and from there I eventually found Bignon, but after much searching and some very difficult to understand directions from an old lady living near the farm (they are very big, and only 800 metres away) I could find no signs of the three dolmens here. Supposedly there is one large allée-couverte and two simple dolmens to be found, and I must have spent over an hour looking along all tracks and in all fields. Perhaps they are deep in some woods beside the stream.
Roquefort Allée couverte
Trip No.203 Entry No.229 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Passage Grave
Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 1
Roquefort Allée couverte submitted by thecaptain on 10th Jan 2006. Roquefort allée couverte can be found in the grounds of Roquefort Chateau near to the village of Lugasson in Gironde.
Its a very big allée-couverte, especially for round here, still contained mostly within its long mound, but in a fairly ruinous condition. As with many of these monuments, the mound has got many big trees growing on it, with their roots digging in to the remains, and unfortunately several of these trees were blown down in the big storm of 19XX, substantially damaging the on...
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Log Text: This is a fantastic find, in the grounds of Roquefort Chateau, which is a very private area. I asked at the village about the allée-couverte, and got directed to the Chateau, which is still a very busy wine producer, so I went and asked there. I got taken by the owner to see the monument, and he also found and let me photocopy some documents and details they had about it.
Its a very big allée-couverte, especially for round here, still contained mostly within its long mound, but in a fairly ruinous condition. As with many of these monuments, the mound has got many big trees growing on it, with their roots digging in to the remains, and unfortunately several of these trees were blown down in the big storm of 19XX, substantially damaging the once fine chamber. It is 18 metres in length, with 22 support stones, with an east west orientation at 104°. Only 4 capstones now remain in place, and the end stone has cupules carved into it. Excavations were carried out in 1922 and again in 1977.
Peyrefitte
Trip No.203 Entry No.233 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Aquitaine:Gironde (33))
Visited: Yes on 3rd Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 3 Access 5
Peyrefitte submitted by thecaptain on 15th Jan 2006. Large menhir near to the Dordogne river in the commune of St-Sulpice-de-Faleyrens in Gironde. Signposted from all around, and with a little parking area, this huge and nicely shaped menhir stands in a little field amongst the vines.
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Log Text: Signposted from all around, and with a little parking area, this huge and nicely shaped menhir stands in a little field amongst the vines. This is the largest standing stone in southwest France, and it is 5.2 metres tall, 3 metres wide and less than a metre thick, with the bottom part of it chipped away to make the distinctive shape. There is a little hollow in the bottom of it, apparently made for offerings to be placed in during the middle ages.
Estimated to weigh 50 tonnes, the stone has been brought to this position from at least 2.5 kilometres away. It has been dated to 2500 BC, contemporary with the various allée-couvertes to be found in the region.
It is said by legend to mark an entry to the subterranean world, can cure rheumatism, and is good for curing a limp. But while I am here, a massive thunderstorm has arrived, and I must rush back to the van quickly.
Sechebec Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.241 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5
Sechebec dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 28th Jul 2007. This dolmen comes with its own block of flats, "Residence du Dolmen", in the western outskirts of Cognac.
The dolmen can be seen beside the flats, just alongthe path.
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Log Text: This dolmen comes with its own block of flats, "Residence du Dolmen", which is currently for sale, in the western outskirts of Cognac, not too far from the big sports centre.
The 4.5 by 2.5 metre chamber is covered by a single large capstone, held up on 8 external support stones and with another stone on the inside, but it is not very high off the ground. It would not surprise me at all if this has been somewhat modified for safety reasons, as it is now part of a sort of play area surrounded by blocks of flats. But at least it is still here, and nice to look at.
Garde Epée Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.240 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente (16))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Garde Epée dolmen submitted by TheCaptain on 28th Jul 2007. This is a big dolmen, the chamber of which is about 4 metres in length by 3 metres wide and 2 metres high.
It has a single large backstone, with two side stones on the south side.
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Log Text: This is a big dolmen, the chamber of which is about 4 metres in length by 3 metres wide and 2 metres high. It has a single large backstone, with two side stones on the south side, only one on the north (the other is missing) and one at the eastern end. The capstone is two pieces, the larger western stone having several delightful holes in it and a warning sign saying not to climb onto it or stand underneath, as the stone is cracked and ready to break.
This dolmen is also suffering from graffitti and rubbish, but otherwise well looked after in a little clearing amongst the vines with its own sign. It can be found just to the south of the D.157 road, a couple of kilometres west of Jarnac.
La Pierre Levée (Sablonceaux)
Trip No.203 Entry No.242 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 4
La Pierre Levée (Sablonceaux) submitted by davidmorgan on 26th Aug 2010. Only three stones remain.
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Log Text: Signposted from the D.XXX road to Sablonceaux, this dolmen is about a kilometre walk along a track through the forest, but there are no more signs and it’s a guess as to which way to go at several junctions. I kept to the biggest track at each option, and eventually there it was to the right of the pathway. It has a little noticeboard, but there is not much more to see, just a pile of three stones in a little hollow. While I was here, the area around the dolmen was absolutely teeming with masses of little jumping spiders !
Dolmen du Bois de la Grosse Pierre (Sainte-Radegonde)
Trip No.203 Entry No.243 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Jun 2005
Log Text: I had a good look around for this one, down into the woods from at least two tracks, and got told some directions on how to find it, but it is well hidden in thick woodland somewhere, and I thought there are better things to do with my time than wander round in the forest for hours on end.
Dolmen de la Pierre Levée (La Vallée)
Trip No.203 Entry No.244 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 4 Access 5
Dolmen de la Pierre Levée (La Vallée) submitted by davidmorgan on 26th Aug 2010. Dolmen de la Pierre Levée (La Vallée).
Nicely tidied up since ocdolmen visited.
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Log Text: This is a bit more like it. Signposted to the north of the village of La Vallée, behind the churchyard along Rue du Dolmen, this dolmen is lovingly looked after in a nicely tended little area of grass on its mound amongst some trees.
It seems to be the remains of a large double chambered tomb, the main chamber being about 4 metres by 3.5 metres at the east of the mound, with a massive capstone now on the ground amongst the remains of about 10 or 12 uprights. To the west are what I am guessing is the remains of a secondary chamber, about 2.5 by 3 metres in size, but which now looks like not much more than a wrecked rectangle of stones with a bit of stone in the middle which was possibly part of a capstone.
Buffletizion Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.245 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Jun 2005
Buffletizion dolmen submitted by Rubis on 16th Aug 2010. The dolmen can be found in the park of this castle.
It has been excavated in 1903 and pulled up at the same time because it was ruined.
Site in Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17) France
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Log Text: I found Buffetision just to the southeast of trizay, but there were no signs of any dolmen. Perhaps it is in the grounds of the chateau.
Soubise Dolmen 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.246 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Jun 2005
Soubise dolmen 1 submitted by Rubis on 24th Jul 2010. Postcard maybe taken between the two World Wars.
The domens are three. The two well preserved were moved into the military base. The third one is ruined. Only some few stones remain. It is always there where they were all together.
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Log Text: These two dolmens are within the confines of an airfield, which has a big military base on the northern side of the runway, and a little flying club at the south. I could not get to very near to where the dolmens are marked on my map, so didn’t try very hard to get close enough for a photo.
La Pierre Levée (Oleron)
Trip No.203 Entry No.248 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Couldn't find on 4th Jun 2005
Log Text: I looked all around the Pierre Levée farm, but could see nothing obvious, so I asked. I was told that there was once a dolmen here, but that it had been destroyed, and nothing remains of it today.
Dolmen d'Ors dit la Piare
Trip No.203 Entry No.247 Date Added: 22nd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 4th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 3 Access 5
Dolmen d'Ors dit la Piare submitted by theCaptain on 17th Dec 2014. The remains here consist of an approximately triangular capstone, sides of length 4 metres, and about a metre thick. Perhaps there are more stones underneath, and built into the sea wall. The stone is broken into two pieces.
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Log Text: Remains of a once fairly large burial mound with several chambers contained within it, now fairly well destroyed, on the southern tip of the Ile d’Oleron, within the community of Le Château-d'Oléron. The remains of this dolmen are easily found, but not signposted, right beside the seawall in a little picnic area right at the southeastern tip of Ile d’Oleron where the road bridge makes landfall. If you get to the first building (a restaurant) from the bridge, you have already passed it.
The remains here consist of an approximately triangular capstone, sides of length 4 metres, and about a metre thick. Perhaps there are more stones underneath, and built into the sea wall. The stone is broken into two pieces. Closer inspection shows there to be a few other large stones in the vicinity of the capstone, now covered by land and the sea wall. Just on the sea side of the wall is the possible remains of another dolmen, or a broken off part of the first, which seems to be a bit of capstone sitting on the beach, surrounded by the sea when I arrived. There are no other large rocks like this in the vicinity, and it doesn't look like it should naturally be there. I have discovered since my visit that this indeed did used to be a fairly large mound, with several burial chambers within it.
Pierres Closes de Charas 1
Trip No.203 Entry No.249 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 4 Access 4
Pierres Closes de Charas 1 submitted by thecaptain on 18th Jan 2006. This burial chamber is an odd one. It consists of an oval shaped chamber about 1.7 metres long, 1 metre wide and 0.7 metres high which has been carved out of a big solid block of rock. On top of this is a limestone capstone.
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Log Text: Its an odd one this, an oval shaped chamber about 1.7 metres long, 1 metre wide and 0.7 metres high has been carved out of a big block of rock. On top of this is a limestone capstone full of holes and cavities filled with lichens and wild flowers.
It can be found just to the northwest of the historic Naval town of Rochefort, amongst the marshes of the Charente river estuary. Not signposted, but marked on my ign map, I drove along some windy lanes to l'Houmee farm and walked about a kilometre along the track to the southeast and found it easily. The walk to this was really splendid, with Herons, Storks and other birds circling, Frogs making a noisy racket and insects chirrping away.
Camp de César Menhir
Trip No.203 Entry No.265 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 4 Access 5
Camp de César menhir submitted by thecaptain on 5th Jul 2005. The King of the Menhirs, in the public gardens of Avrillé, in Vendée.
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Log Text: This large menhir is the only survivor of what was until the last century three stones here, set in an arrangement like the surviving Alignment de la Pierre. At 8.7 metres tall and nicely shaped and dressed, the stone, known as Le Roi des Menhirs (King of the menhirs) is so big that it was not destroyed, and has now had a municipal park created around it.
It is right outside the back of the local Mairie, and is a nice central feature to the garden. However, even here it has suffered from vandalism, somebody having chalked a massive hopscotch type board onto the flat southeast face of the menhir. There are also a few holes which have been drilled into it.
Frébouchère Dolmen
Trip No.203 Entry No.263 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 5 Ambience 5 Access 4
Frébouchère dolmen submitted by thecaptain on 6th Jul 2005. Frébouchère dolmen is a MASSIVE Angevin type dolmen. It really is enormous, my pictures do not do it justice. The chamber is 6.5 metres by 3.5 metres, and 2 m high, with a single capstone.
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Log Text: Easily found and signposted to the north of the village of Le Bernard, this wonderful dolmen has a little parking and picnic area. Ooooh, it’s a whopper, and absolutely fantastic !
It is a large Angevin dolmen with a main chamber 6.5 metres long by 3.5 metres wide, covered by a single massive capstone (now cracked into two parts) 2 metres high off the ground. There are three side stones along each side, and a single massive backstone at the western end. At the eastern end of the chamber are two partial closing stones and the two entrance porchway stones, with the chamber and its entrance facing towards the southeast at 130°.
Most of the stones are granite, but two of the stones, one on each side, are made from a different type of rock. Within the chamber, to the right near the entrance, is a granite stele, which almost reaches to the capstone, and has been very well smoothed and shaped. It is flat at the face near to the dolmen entrance, and side face near to the outside, but rounded around the back. The stone tapers upwards almost to a point, but has been cut short. There are no obvious engravings on it.
There is a lovely resonance inside the chamber, and two swallows or martins came flying through as I was inside. This is an all round excellent place, but it is a pity that it doesnt have a slightly larger enclosure around it like some, as it is nearly impossible to get a decent photograph of.
Dolmen dit la Pierre-Levée (La Jarne)
Trip No.203 Entry No.253 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Poitou:Charente-Maritime (17))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 2 Access 5
Dolmen dit la Pierre-Levée (La Jarne) submitted by thecaptain on 7th Dec 2005. This is a nice little dolmen sitting at the edge of the playing fields just outside the back of the church in the village of La Jarne in Charente-Maritime.
Dolmen dit la Pierre-Levée (La Jarne)
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Log Text: This is a nice little dolmen sitting at the edge of the playing fields just outside the back of the church in the village of La Jarne. I am not sure exactly how original this dolmen is, as it looks like it might be a relatively modern reconstruction, and is stood in a gravel area with tell tale plastic sheeting under the new gravel surroundings. I could find no information about it.
Pierre Levée de Chenillée
Trip No.203 Entry No.254 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 4 Ambience 3 Access 5
Pierre Levée de Chenillée submitted by thecaptain on 7th Dec 2005. A nicely smoothed and shaped menhir, which must be about 4.5 metres tall, 2.5 metres wide and 1 metre thick.
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Log Text: This is a nicely smoothed and shaped menhir, which must be about 4.5 metres tall, 2.5 metres wide and 1 metre thick. It is just off a farm track beside the road, and is signposted.
Petites Jaunières
Trip No.203 Entry No.255 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 2
Petites Jaunières submitted by thecaptain on 7th Dec 2005. Inside a field just to the west of the D.85 road south of Le Givre, but very difficult to get at or take a picture of because of the ditch, fence and hedge surrounding its field !
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Log Text: Inside a field just to the west of the D.85 road south of Le Givre, but very difficult to get at or take a picture of because of the ditch, fence and hedge surrounding its field ! I estimate it to be about 3 metres tall, and sort of pointed.
Dolmen des Pierres Folles du Plessis
Trip No.203 Entry No.257 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Burial Chamber or Dolmen
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 3 Ambience 3 Access 4
Dolmen des Pierres Folles du Plessis submitted by thecaptain on 8th Dec 2005. This possible Angevine dolmen resides in a little wooded picnic area beside the lane to the south of the busy D.949 road to the east of Avrillé.
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Log Text: This possible Angevine dolmen resides in a little wooded picnic area beside the lane to the south of the busy D.949 road to the east of Avrillé. The chamber would have been 5 metres long by 2 metres wide, but the eastern end has collapsed and broken badly, so its difficult to tell. The remains of a 4 metre by 3 metre capstone lie fallen into the chamber, although it is still supported at the western end. The mass of jumbled stone at the east end has obviously been recently broken further, as there are very fresh breakage edges, and drill marksd to be seen, or else it is possible that some new stone has been dumped here.
The nice surprise nature find at this place was a massive, lovely patterned moth sleeping at the bottom of one of the stones.
Menhir dit le Champ du Rocher
Trip No.203 Entry No.256 Date Added: 23rd Apr 2020
Site Type: Standing Stone (Menhir)
Country: France (Pays de la Loire:Vendée (85))
Visited: Yes on 5th Jun 2005. My rating: Condition 2 Ambience 2 Access 4
Menhir dit le Champ du Rocher submitted by thecaptain on 9th Dec 2005. Champ du Rocher menhir. All I could find where this stone should be was a fallen smoothed stone at the roadside, about 3 metres long by 2 metres wide.
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Log Text: All I could find where this stone should be was a fallen smoothed stone at the roadside, but I could find nowhere to safely stop and have a good look around. It's about 3 metres long by 2 metres wide.