Martiel Dolmens

To reach the starting point of the Dolmens Route (marked M1 and M1D), on leaving Martiel, head towards Le Juge. After about 5 km, park in a gravel car park on the right-hand side of the road.

There are two options available: firstly, the full route marked M1, which is approximately 10.5 km long and allows you to see four dolmens and explore the Causse landscape; and secondly, the shorter route described here, marked M1D and approximately 1.5 km long, which is limited to visiting three dolmens and the Cloup des Gleyettes.

(S/E) From the road, facing the car park, take the path leading up Chemin des Gleyettes on the right-hand side of the car park. Before the top of the hill, take the path on the right towards the Dolmen du Bois del Rey. After 100 m, you will notice a small basin, 30 cm in diameter, carved into the rock at ground level.

(1) When you reach the Dolmen du Bois del Rey, take the path on the left towards the Dolmen du Bois de Galtier.

(2) At the Dolmen du Bois de Galtier, follow the path straight on until you reach the track. Take this track to the right (north-east). At the first junction, continue straight on for 250 m.

(3) Take a path on the right towards "Dolmen, Cloup" (Dolmen du Devès des Gleyettes and Cloup des Gleyettes).
This route takes you on a round trip to visit the dolmen and the Cloup des Gleyettes. Following this path, you’ll come to a Y-junction: 20 m to the right is the Dolmen des Gleyettes, and 100 m to the left the path leads you to the cloup where the small Gleyettes cave is located.
On your return from the visit, find your way back to the path.

(3) (Route M1D: taking the path on your left, you’ll head straight back to the car park 400 m away). Continue on route M1: take the path on your right, go to a T-junction with another path, and turn left. Continue along this path for 1 km.

(4) Opposite a small ruined barn at a T-junction, turn right and continue to the tarmac road leading to Lespinassière. At this crossroads stands a replica of the Templars’ cross (the original of which was moved to Lacapelle Balaguier). Turn left towards Lespinassière.

(5) In the hamlet of Lespinassière, walk along the Patus des Templiers, then the Patus des Chevaliers de Saint-Jean: beautiful buildings (old wine storehouse, caselle, dwelling) and a Christianised dolmen on which a calvary has been erected. At the end of the hamlet, continue to the right along the tarmac road (note the fountain and its wash house below) and climb up to the junction with the RD146, the Margues road. Take the RD146 on your left, heading up to the Bournac Calvary:this spot offers a sweeping panorama of the Lot valley and the Plomb du Cantal to the north.

(6) Continue by taking the left-handest road at the three-way junction: Route du Père Raphaël Savignac.At the top of this large open space, on your left, stands a stone house once inhabited by Father Raphaël Savignac. On the southern side, enjoy the view over the Causse de Margues. At the next crossroads (Croix des Pendus), continue straight on (to the left of the stone wayside shrine) towards the Puech de la Celle.

(7) At the next crossroads (Croix des Pendus), continue straight on (to the left of the wayside cross) towards Puech de la Celle. Continue to the hamlet known as Le Juge.

(8) At the Juge junction, take the road opposite towards Bramaloup in the direction of Marroule and continue until you reach a green tunnel-shaped shed on your left.

(9) (Here you can take a 1,800-metre round trip to see the Maire Gaillard Dolmen by continuing along the road.) Take the dirt track on the left. This track ends at the Martiel road at Le Juge (Route des Dolmens).

(10)At this junction, there is a recently renovated two-storey caselle. Continue straight on along the tarmac road (towards Martiel) then, after about 500 m, take the path on the left.

(11) After about 250 m, at the T-junction, turn right and follow this path for about 500 m. You will come to a crossroads; take the path downhill on your right. After about 200 m, you will reach the Dolmens car park (S/E).