The Dolmens of the Grande Pallières

Starting point :__ At the end of the small asphalt road that leads to the place called La Frigoule.

Yellow dash signs along the route and signposts at important junctions.

(S/E) Set off to the west and slightly uphill taking the gravel track which continues from the road. Pass a place called la Frigoule, continue straight and climb the stony path between a fence and a low wall on the left side. Enter a wood and continue to climb. Further on, the path becomes flat, within shrubby vegetation.

(1) At the top, at a crossroads not shown on the map (signpost), turn slightly right (less than the yellow arrow suggests). Go North and ignore several paths on the right. Arrive at the Croix de Pallières (384m).

(2) Then turn left towards the dolmens and, after a few metres, turn right, still towards the dolmens. Go up on a stony path in the middle of dense undergrowth dominated by pines. Pass a kind of small summit (ruins of a house on the left) and go down again to reach a crossing (signpost "Sous le dolmen, 407m").

(3) Take the path on the left towards the dolmens. Go up and quickly reach the Dolmen de Panissière.

(4) Go around the dolmen, reach the signpost just behind it and go in the direction of the Dolmens de la Grande Pallières. The path, marked with some cairns, zigzags and passes through undergrowth, and on the crest, between small rocks. When you arrive in front of a yellow cross, go down to the right on a kind of step in the rock and immediately take a path to the left (be sure to mark the place for the return). Finish by a passage on small rocks flush with the ground and reach the signpost "Dolmens de la Grande Pallières.

(5) The first two dolmens can be found by going towards 'Panissière' on the right: the 1st one just below the post, the 2nd one by going down a few metres and by turning right (yellow cross). Back to the post, continue a hundred metres on the ridge (North-North-East) and find the two other dolmens on the right : the 3rd immediately, the 4th by further again to the right. Retrace your steps until you reach the signpost.

To return; take the same track you followed to arrive at the dolmens (see variants in the practical information). In what follows, only the points to be careful of are mentioned.

(5) Go South-South-West towards the Dolmen de Panissière. Do not miss the right-left at the "step" passed on the way.

(4) Go around the Dolmen de Panissière as far as the entrance and descend to the left (be careful, the sign on the post appears to indicate the right).

(3) Turn right towards the Croix des Pallières. At the next post, turn left and immediately end up at the Croix de Pallières.

(2) Turn right towards Saint-Félix-de-Favières. Ignore several paths on the left.

(1) Turn left (signpost) and return to the parking point (S/E).

Starting point :__ At the end of the small asphalt road that leads to the place called La Frigoule.

Access : From the D133 between Saint-Félix-de-Favières and Anduze, take the Chemin de la Croix de Pallières towards the Jardin du Mas de la Frigoule (on the left when coming from Saint-Félix, on the right when coming from Anduze). Follow this small asphalt road (as well as a yellow marker) ignoring the access roads to houses. At the end of the road, find on the left a half-grassy, half-rocky area where it is possible to park three or four vehicles.
See a variant of the starting point in the practical information.

Starting point variation :
Parking is one of the difficulties of this hike... Rather than at the end of the tarmac, it is possible to park on the side of the D133, near the start of the Chemin de la Croix de Pallières, particularly towards Traviagues. Follow the path of the Cross of Pallières towards the dolmens and the Garden of the Mas de la Frigoule (Yellow markings). Makes the hike about 500m longer.

Variations of return :
Rather than coming back by the same route as outbound, it's possible to take a detour by the old hamlet of Panissière (apparently marked paths, variant not tested by the author). Follow the direction Panissière, either from the post (5) or from the post (3). From Panissière, follow the direction of La Croix de Pallières and join the main route at (2).
This variant lengthens the hike and slightly increases its height difference.

Yellow dash signs along the route and signposts at important junctions.

Terrain: Hiking shoes are recommended (the terrain is often stony). The route is mostly shaded, which should be an advantage in summer.

Facilities : There is no water point on the trail.

Note : Detailed map required (at least the one that accompanies this description). From the waypoint (4) on, a good sense of direction is required.

Hike made by the author on April 11, 2019.

The four dolmens of the Grande Pallières (-4000 to -3500 B.C.) (5) constitute the goal of the hike. They all have the same configuration: a central slab resting on vertical slabs constitutes the chamber; the chamber is surrounded by heaped stones which form a circle; this structure is bordered by a kind of path and an external ring of stones. The third one mentioned in the description is probably the most intact, the fourth is the least well preserved. I found the second one to be the most moving.

The Dolmen of Panissières has the same configuration as those of the Grande Pallière. Metal bars have been added to consolidate the structure.

Here and there, we find some signs of a much more recent occupation of the place, notably around the (3) old low walls, ruins of a dwelling.

Some beautiful panoramas on the Cevennes when you are is on the crests.