Dolmen Trail in Saint-Paul-le-Jeune

A short walk through the heath dotted with a few dolmens in varying states of repair, but nonetheless interesting for their burial mounds and magnificent limestone slabs, which have unfortunately partially collapsed.
You can also see two shepherds’ drystone shelters, known locally as ‘drystone shelters’, one of which is in good condition.

Details

26419068
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 3.14 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 285 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 262 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 958 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 768 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Head to the village of Saint-Paul-le-Jeune, situated between Aubenas and Alès on the D901.
In the centre of the village, park in the square.

(S/E) Near the chemist’s, as you leave the car park, a narrow lane with a sign reading ‘sentier des dolmens’ climbs up opposite, on the other side of the road. Take this lane, which first becomes a track and then a path marked in yellow.

(1) Ignore a path on the right – this will be your return route – and carry on straight ahead.

(2) At a fork in the road, take the path on the left. Shortly after a right-angle bend, there are two shepherds’ huts on either side of the path, one of which is a typical example. Then continue to follow the yellow markings until you come to an old track, which you take on the left.

(3) The path veers off at a 90° angle. Along the next stretch, you can see two dolmens in ‘relatively’ good condition and others where only the burial mound remains, along with one or two collapsed slabs. Then follow the yellow markings towards the south-west.

(4) Before reaching the departmental road, the path veers to the right at a sign bearing the logo of a dolmen. From this point onwards, there were no markings as of 4 September 2022. You’ll come to a property, which you go round to the right. The path leads onto a track. Turn right here, passing through a green gate. Continue until you reach a junction with a footpath.

(5) Follow this path straight on until you rejoin the path you took on the way there.

(1) Turn left to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 837 ft - Car park in the centre of the village, on the edge of the - Claysse (rivière)
  2. 1 : mi 0.26 - alt. 955 ft - Crossroads
  3. 2 : mi 0.52 - alt. 902 ft - Fork
  4. 3 : mi 1.11 - alt. 771 ft - Junction
  5. 4 : mi 1.8 - alt. 830 ft - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 2.21 - alt. 892 ft - Path junction
  7. S/E : mi 3.14 - alt. 837 ft - Car park in the village centre

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 3 reviews

Reliability of the description
5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 27553001

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that since my last walk, the largest dolmens have been removed by the municipal services because of a complaint from a hiker..

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IgOr07
IgOr07

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk – the dolmens aren’t in very good condition. It was nice.

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Solano Chantal
Solano Chantal
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely, well-signposted walk! Along the way, there’s a typical, restored shepherd’s hut – well worth a look! You can see some ancient dolmens, some of which have collapsed to varying degrees…
Towards the end of the route, there are terraced olive groves that are full of charm! The walk is mostly in the sun, with little shade...

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