Dolmens walking tour

History and heritage

Panorama

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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.
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.
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
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.
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…)
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.

Description

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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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 and Saint-Rome-de-Tarn

Altimetric profile

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.

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