From St-Jean-d’Alcas to the Mascourbe plateau

Agropastoralism

History and heritage

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Saint-Jean-d’Alcas Fort, a Cistercian jewel is the starting point for a trip back in time and an exploration of the Mascourbe plateau, along dolmens and evidences of agro-pastoralism.

The fortified village of Saint-Jean-d’Alcas which was formerly owned by the Nonenque abbess encourages you to a getaway beyond its battlements on the Mascourbe plateau. In this landscape scattered with buissières, three megaliths await you, along with a vernacular heritage linked with the agro-pastoral tradition: bories or caselles (dry stone huts) and sheepfolds.

3 points of interest

Dolmen
Mascourbe 2 dolmen
The Mascourbe dolmens are parts of the ”Treilles” group. This name comes from the cave located next to the Treilles farm in Saint-Paul des Fonts where these Grands Causses “builders” hail from. They were also famous for working with copper and for their astonishing trepanations (making small openings into the skull). There are at least three dolmens located in Mascourbe.

This megalith is a simple dolmen with a covering stone, sidestones, but without a headstone.
Dolmen
Mascourbe 3 dolmen
The Mascourbe dolmens are parts of the ”Treilles” group. This name comes from the cave located next to the Treilles farm in Saint-Paul des Fonts where these Grands Causses “builders” hail from. They were also famous for working with copper and for their astonishing trepanations (making small openings into the skull). There are at least three dolmens located in Mascourbe.

Not much is left of this ruined dolmen apart from two pieces of the covering slab and a fragment of a sidestone lying flat on the ground.
Dolmen
Mascourbe 1 dolmen
The Mascourbe dolmens are parts of the ”Treilles” group. This name comes from the cave located next to the Treilles farm in Saint-Paul des Fonts where these Grands Causses “builders” hail from. They were also famous for working with copper and for their astonishing trepanations (making small openings into the skull). There are at least three dolmens located in Mascourbe.

The covering stone is broken into two pieces and the headstone has a trapezoidal shape.

Description

From St-Jean d’Alcas fort, walk along the protective wall heading to the West, then carry on along the road. At the first intersection walk downhill to the left and keep walking on the small road. In a left curve, let a road marker indicating the direction of Mascourbe via the Puech and 50 m after take a “bouissière” (box hedges). After approximately 1 km, cross the road that links Saint-Jean- d’Alcas to Saint-Félix de Sorgues and continue through the “bouissière”.
The track leads to a field, walk around it to the right, then tread across it up to a trail. Carry on along that trail to the right. After approximately 450 m, leave the trail on the left to make a short 100 m round trip to the dolmen des Places.
At the next intersection of trails take the one that runs down to the left. After 350 m, get through the door of the stock grid, walk along the fence up to a sheepfold. Go through the gate (close it properly) and carry on to the right of the fence. The path continues Southward. At the signpost of a path intersection, turn right towards Mascourbe.
Go through another stock grid, then continue to the right towards Mascourbe via the 2 km long "buissière" which is the ancient path linking the chartreuse de Nonenque with Mascourbe. At the exit of the "buissière", turn to the right on the trail.
At the junction with the road take it to the right, walk past the Borie du Commandeur, and shortly after take for 200m the small ascending road to the left. At the marker to your right, head towards Saint-Jean d’Alcas.
The path runs alternately through a typical caussenard landscape and cultivated areas to reach the two dolmens in Mascourbe. You will enjoy some beautiful panoramas towards the Larzac, the Combalou and the Levézou. As you walk down to St-Jean d’Alcas, you pass close to the beautiful Ramondenc farm.
As you get close to St-Jean d’Alcas you will notice on the left side a well preserved cazelle. The circuit ends by retracing your steps by the small road you took at the start.

Departure : St-Jean d'Alcas Fort
Arrival : St-Jean d'Alcas Fort
Towns crossed : Saint-Jean-et-Saint-Paul and Saint-Félix-de-Sorgues

Altimetric profile

Recommandations

Is in the midst of the park

This itinerary is located in the World Heritage zone Causses and Cévennes, mediterranean agropastoral cultural landscape.

Information desks

Tourist Office Larzac et Vallées

Place du Claux, 12230 NANT

http://www.visit-larzac.com/infos@tourisme-larzac.com +33(0)565622364

Located on the ground floor of the Town Hall (mansion of the 18th century), The Tourist Office welcomes you all year and offers tourist information on the Larzac and its valleys, the department of Aveyron, and also on neighboring counties. Free Wifi access.

Opening hours :

From Novembre to February: Tuesday morning 9:00-12:30
March and October : Tuesday to Friday 9:00-12:30
April : Tuesday to Friday 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30
May, June : Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30
July and August : every day 10:00-12:30 and 14:30-18:00
September : Tuesday to Saturday 10:00-12:30 and 14:00-17:30

Find out more

Transport

Getting around by bus or train, carpooling areas, hitchhiking with Rezopouce

Access and parking

St-Jean d’Alcas is situated 28 km southwest of Millau via the D999 and D293 roads

Parking :

Graveyard of St-Jean d’Alcas

Source

C.C. Larzac et Vallées

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