Dolmen of Grande-Pallières

An interesting trip is to visit the Dolmen of Grande-Pallières. The Dolmens are just 3-4 kilometres west from Anduze, dominant on the forested ridge.

Dolmen of Grande-Pallières | ©: www.anduze-info.com

The ridge offered those, buried back then, a dignified environment. Those who visit the Dolmen today, it offers magnificent views, back on the Cevennes. In the late afternoon or early evening, they offer a beautiful panorama on the south side with a view of the Provence. The castle ruins of Tornac are also good to see.

Dolmen of Grande-Pallières: View in direction Cevennes
©: www.anduze-info.com

Dolmen of Grande-Pallières. View in direction Provence.
In the foreground Castle Tornac | ©: www.anduze-info.com

Dolmen of Grande-Pallières | ©: www.anduze-info.com

On the way to the Dolmen of Grande-Pallières | ©: www.anduze-info.com

The 20-30 megalithic monuments (Dolmens’ graves) are approximately 5000-6000 years old and date back to the megalithic culture.

A burial site usually consists of several vertical stone slabs, which carry a horizontal stone slab. This plate can weigh more than a ton. The main room can be reached via a small passage from the outside. Some graves were also covered with soil to give the burial site protection against wind and weather. The largest dolmen grave is surrounded by a circle of 1-meter-high, upright standing stones, forming a circle (cromlech) around the stone grave. From its first discovery in 1911 until today, there have been several excavations. The last one took place about 1988. They archaeologists found blades, arrowheads, jewellery such as beads, pottery shards and other things.

Dolmen von Grande-Pallières | ©: www.anduze-info.com

In 1989, more Dolmens came to light due to a forest fire. It is believed that there are still some undiscovered Dolmens around Anduze.

After all: close to Anduze, you can encounter Menhirs. Entire Menhir fields and more clues that the Southern Cevennes has been inhabited since ancient times.

To get to the dolmens by car, you have to take the D133 from Anduze a few kilometres uphill to a parking lot at Coumessas [1]. You still could drive another 750 m on the forest road until you get to the former mining and industrial plant in the woods [2]. However, this is a dirt road. From here on just follow the signposts with the word Dolmen or La Croix de Pallières [3]. The trail leads through a mixed forest of chestnut trees. Initially, however, you walk through pines. The hiking trail is about 6km long both ways.

Dolmen of Grande-Pallières

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