Along the trails of the Gard, discovering the dolmens that have watched over our garrigues for five thousand years
Stone giants: The megalithic heritage around the Château
Have you ever laid your hand on a stone that has witnessed five thousand years of history? There’s something unsettling and profoundly human about this simple gesture. Here in our area of Gard, this experience is just a short stroll away.
For our region holds a secret that few visitors suspect upon passing through the gates of the Château: the scrubland, hills and valleys that surround us are dotted with dolmens: megalithic monuments erected by Neolithic men and women, long before the invention of the wheel, writing... and boutique hotels. As if to remind people that the luxury of simplicity is nothing new.
But what exactly is a dolmen?
Imagine large slabs of rough stone - sometimes several tonnes each - erected vertically to support an imposing horizontal capstone. A kind of open-air burial chamber, used as a collective burial site for millennia. The word itself comes from the Breton words dol (table) and men (stone). Simple. Obvious. And yet, the question everyone asks when faced with one of them remains the same: how?
Nobody really knows. And it is precisely this kind of mystery that makes the walk so special.
Discovering the dolmens of the Gard
The Gard region is home to nearly two hundred megalithic monuments, one of the densest heritages in the south of France. Around Château de Montcaud, within a radius of about thirty kilometers, several sites are well worth a visit.
Near Lussan (about a twenty-minute drive away), the limestone scrubland landscape reveals several dolmens accessible on foot. The village itself perches on a rocky outcrop and offers views stretching as far as the Cévennes. Perfect for a stop-off to relax before or after your hike.
Further north in the Cèze Valley, towards Barjac, the trails wind through holm oak forests and sometimes, almost unexpectedly, reveal a megalithic chamber that has stood there since the dawn of humanity. There's nothing like this feeling to put the urgency of daily life into perspective.
Also in Verfeuil, just a few kilometers from Sabran, a discreet dolmen awaits those who know where to look. Our team knows these paths intimately and will be happy to point you in the right direction, providing precise directions and guiding you on the right footwear to wear (and more!).
A stroll between history and mystery
What makes these excursions truly memorable is the atmosphere. Walking to a dolmen means traversing landscapes once walked by the Romans, the Celts and before them, Neolithic people. The scent of thyme and wild lavender, the song of cicadas in summer, the low afternoon light on the ochre and grey stones - all contribute to this strange feeling of being outside of time.
Andrea Bertschi often says : Dolmens are among those unforgettable discoveries.
This region still surprises us after all these years. With each outing, we return with the feeling of having discovered something new.
How to organise your day
The perfect day could look like this:
- In the morning, have a leisurely breakfast at the Château, then depart around 9 a.m. to enjoy the cooler temperatures.
- At mid-morning, arrive at your chosen site and enjoy a walk at your own pace, according to your mood – between 1 and 3 hours depending on the route.
- At midday, enjoy a picnic in the garrigue or return to Lussan or Barjac for lunch on a terrace.
- In the afternoon, stroll through a medieval village... or simply return to the Château for a well-deserved rest by the pool.
The trails are accessible to everyone, including children. Adults will be fascinated by the unanswered questions posed by these ancient stones. Children will primarily see it as a wonderful adventure in the garrigue.
Heritage, at your fingertips
This is one of the things that touches us the most here at the Château de Montcaud: being surrounded by such a vibrant and profound region, without it ever being staged or overexploited. The dolmens of the Gard are not in museums. They are in the garrigue, at the end of a dirt track, guarded by lizards and juniper trees. Freely accessible, silent, patient.
All you have to do is choose your day. Our team will take care of the rest: maps, personalised advice and an itinerary tailored to the season and your hiking experience.