Dolmens walking tour
>>
Home
>
Trekking
>
Dolmens walking tour
Saint-Affrique

Dolmens walking tour

History and heritage
Panorama
Embed this item to access it offline

This loop circuit which is one of the longest hiking route in Southern Aveyron runs across the Saint-Affrique frontal Causse and leads you from dolmen to dolmen allowing you to explore some  remains of human settlements dating back to the Neolithic period.

Once across the Sorgues river in Saint-Affrique, go hiking in the footsteps of our ancestors and crisscross a land which has a high concentration of  megaliths. Six dolmens, Neolithic sepulchral chambers mark this journey into the past: dolmens of Touloupy, Boussac East, Boussac West, Crassous Puech, Ibilié, and finally the most majestic: the listed dolmen of Tiergues.

6 points of interest
Dolmen

Touloupy dolmen

This dolmen is situated 300 m North of Touloupy farm, up a hillside, atop a small plateau (private property). It is a fine specimen of a simple dolmen with no remaining headstone and an estimated tumulus that had a diameter of 4 m, now destroyed by farming. The current farmers and landowners have re-erected this dolmen.

read more
History and heritage

Boussac chapel

St Martin’s chapel dates back to the 10th century, and was the main church of the parish of Boussac. It is located on top of a mound which is 650 m high and was renovated in 1999 by a local association. Once a year, around August 15, an open air mass is celebrated, gathering between 200 to 300 parishioners and friends.

read more
Archeology

Boussac dolmen

This dolmen is still surrounded by large stones that form a tumulus. The framework has remained complete with 3.5 metre high orthostats (sidestones) and a thick flat capstone weighing approximately 19 tons.

It would have been erected some 4500 years ago.

The clearing works were carried out during May 2015 with the assistance of the SARAC
read more
Dolmen

Crassous dolmen

This dolmen which can be seen from the road is one of the dolmens that is worth making a detour to visit. It is nicknamed l’Ercoule owing to an old legend that the demigod Hercules, known for his superhuman strength, must have built this burial chamber.

read more
Dolmen

Tiergues dolmen

Listed as a historical monument, the Tiergues dolmen is part of the 20 or so dolmens which have been recorded in the area, some of them being poorly-preserved. The excavations of these megaliths were carried out by Emile Cartailhac during the 20th century and today their artefacts are scattered throughout Midi- Pyrennées (Rodez, Toulouse…)
read more
History and heritage

Counts of Caylus’ Castle

This rock was used as the bedrock for the building of the Counts of Caylus’ Castle of which nothing remains today

The castle was destroyed in retaliation of Count of Caylus’ rebellion against his overlord Raymond VII, count of Toulouse, marquis of Provence and of Gothie.

read more

Description

  1. From the carpark, walk along the Pont-Neuf which spans the river Sorgues. Just after the bridge turn left at a hairpin bend to join the right bank of the Sorgues. Turn right to walk up an ascending trail "la Carrierasse" that leads to a narrower path rising up the mountain side called "travers des Cazes". Join the tarred road.
  2. After the Escarbassols, leave the road and turn right, then left on a dirt road. Make your way through the undergrowth following a northwest direction. Walk down towards the Riviéral ravine and continue on by climbing over a fence where you will find a wide trail with a hairpin bend. Keep going uphill towards the plateau along a hedge bordering a steep field. Join a service road and reach a junction. Turn to your right to reach the chapel.
  3. Retrace your way back to the road that leads to Boussac. Turn to the right, then first left and follow a dirt road for 1.5 km.
  4. Join the road which leads to Boussac. When you get to the intersection with the Nougayrolles road take the path opposite lined with box trees which leads to the fourth dolmen, the walk there and back takes less than fifteen minutes. Retrace your steps and take the road back towards Crassous. Just a little before the quarry, notice a well preserved dolmen to your right.
  5. At the entrance of the hamlet, leave the road and follow a stony trail to the left that runs between some houses. Wind your way down a twisting path and join the D 50 then the D 250 roads. Keep walking on this road for 250m and walk to the left through a “Buissière” which runs parallel to the road. Take a Causse pathway that first connects to the road, then leads to the Baldassé cross. Carry on this path Eastward up to the Tiergues dolmen.
  6. Follow the trail to the southwest running between meadows and thickets to meet a “buissière”. Carry on along this trail, then on a descending path through the Gardies ravine. Join the trail that connects Saint-Affrique to Tiergues.
  7. Walk to the right along the Nougayrolles ravine. Pass a sheepfold, then head straight on up to a junction with the path coming from ridges.
  8. Walk down towards the rocher de Caylus, pass around a rocky outcrop that leads to the road. Find a track to the left, then a narrow path overlooking the D 993. Join the road and retrace your way back to the town centre.
Take care when fording the brook and climbing over the fence.
Departure : Foch square
Arrival : Foch square
Towns crossed : Saint-Affrique, Saint-Rome-de-Tarn

Recommandations

Box tree moths are active from May to October. During the caterpillar phase, they feed on the leaves of box trees. They crawl down trees and move on long silken threads, although these threads are annoying when hiking they do not pose any health risk

Information desks

Avenue de Lauras, 12250 Roquefort/Soulzon

http://www.roquefort-tourisme.fr/

contact@roquefort-tourisme.fr

0565585600

Situated in the Grands Causses Regional Natural Park, the cheese village of Roquefort stretches on the hillside over the famous scree of the Combalou Rock, in southern Larzac. The village is at an elevation of 630 m and has 700 inhabitants.

OPENING PERIODS:

The Tourist Office is open all year round:

  • In July and August, Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 18.30, Sunday: 10.00 to 17.00.
  • April, May, June, September, October; Monday to Saturday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.30, closed on Sunday.
  • January, February, November, December; Monday to Friday: 9.30 to 12.15 & 13.00 to 17.00, closed on Saturday and Sunday.
Find out more

Transport


Access and parking

Saint-Affrique is situated on the RD 999 road axis which links Millau to Albi.

Parking :

Foch square or Leclerc square

Source


Report a problem or an error

If you have found an error on this page or if you have noticed any problems during your hike, please report them to us here:


Close by
31
Where to eat ?
Where to sleep ?

Where to sleep ?

Traditional catering or cafeteria-style for groups. Bar with terrace. Outdoor swimming pool, fitness centre. 3 meeting rooms with accommodating 15 to 150 people.


COVID 19 MEASURES

The safety of our clients and our staff is priority number one. In response to the coronavirus disease, we have taken additional health and safety measures to ensure our guests security.

We have strengthened our cleaning team and increased the frequency of disinfection of bedrooms, common areas, hotel private areas and especially areas and facilities used by everyone (entrance hall, lifts (by now unauthorised use), door handles, toilets, Reception Hall, room access cards and others).

•    The staff is currently trained to prevent the spread of the coronavirus by means of new cleaning and disinfection techniques appropriate for today's conditions.

•    We have provided our employees with personal protective equipment.

•    We use specifically recommended cleaning products for the disinfection against COVID 19.

•    The storey's staff will not carry out the daily cleaning in occupied rooms to prevent anyone to entering your room.  

•    Change of bathroom linen will be available at the Reception if needed.

•    Alcohol-based disinfectant hand gel is available to our clients in the Reception Hall and in each floor.

•    Your access badge will be disinfected and placed in an envelope. Upon your leaving, please put it in the box provided for this purpose, in the Reception Hall.

•    A reminder of the appropriate physical distancing measures is displayed in the Reception Hall and on each floor.

•    We have implemented directional floor marking in the Reception Hall and a one-way system has been put in place on each floor.

•    We ensure that clients maintain a safe distance from each other.

We will continue to make sure that cleanliness and hygiene are our top priorities throughout all procedures and thank you for respecting the physical distancing measures (1.5 m).

We thank you, for the trust you put in us and wish you a pleasant stay with us!


read more
Where to eat ?
Where to sleep ?
Where to sleep ?
Where to sleep ?
Where to sleep ?

Where to sleep ?

The 1837” has reopened its doors from May 15th 2020…with new sanitary practises to ensure your safety, as well as that of our employees !

The success of our unique hotel is the result of an Aveyronnaise family in love with their region, and a beautiful building that is nearly two hundred years old. Come and spend green holidays and enjoy overnight, or week-long stays in spacious and comfortable suites (fully equipped apartments with, among other features “fitted kitchen, dining area, living room with an office space, free wifi internet access” which can accommodate from 1 to 6 persons), private terraces opening onto a large green terrain, with free and private access to all of the 1837 facilities (with time slot-booking) and providing a unique atmosphere. Situated a few steps away from the small town centre of Saint-Affrique and close to numerous hiking and cycling circuits, the 1837 combines wonderful open spaces, refinement and services in the heart of southern Aveyron.

On the subject of services, please note that from now on, the 1837 offers you packed breakfasts using only local produce, which we leave for you outside the door of your apartment. And if you do not feel like preparing a meal, going to the drive-through or shopping at the local grocery store, we can also deliver midday and evening meal trays to you!

Revitalise yourself and enjoy the simple things in life: spend the siesta hours in the shade of the park, picnic with your family on the river's edge, take a walk and live simply, while enjoying the 1837 facilities (heated indoor overflow swimming pool, SPA facility with sauna, hammam and 2 jacuzzis, cardio training room and a billiards room.

Book now with complete peace of mind and pay later by calling us at 05 65 97 63 30 or sending us an e-mail to contact@le1837.fr

We invite you to share all our wonderful facilities so that you have a relaxing and enjoyable stay !

read more
Where to sleep ?
Where to sleep ?