In the news: an international conference in Ruoms
From 14 to 17 October 2026, Ruoms is hosting an international conference on dolmens for the first time. Researchers from Italy, Switzerland and Spain are taking part in talks and site visits, and Saturday 17 October is open to the public, with registration through the Gorges de l’Ardèche community of communes. The day’s programme includes a guided visit to the Dolmen du Calvaire in Saint-Alban-Auriolles, whose two side slabs stand almost 1.6 metres high.
An archaeologist who has studied the Ardèche dolmens for fifteen years, speaking to the regional broadcaster ICI Drôme Ardèche, sums it up in two words: “exceptional heritage”. It is also heritage that research is still uncovering: five new dolmens were found in the department last year.
Why so many dolmens in the Ardèche?
With 865 recorded dolmens, the Ardèche holds the French record. About a dozen are listed historic monuments. They are concentrated in the south of the department, on the limestone plateaus of the Bas-Vivarais, between Ruoms, Labeaume, Grospierres and Les Vans. Limestone, which naturally splits into large slabs, probably made them easier to build. The village of Labeaume alone has 138.
A dolmen is a burial chamber: large upright slabs topped with a stone table, once covered by a mound of stones held in place by a dry-stone wall. The first were built in the Neolithic, around 3000 BC, and some were used for centuries. Archaeologists find jewellery inside, bracelets and earrings that adorned the dead, and with them clues to how their builders lived.
Four trails to see them
The “Ardèche terre de dolmens” network has waymarked discovery trails, open all year round, linking several dolmens, dry-stone huts and viewpoints. Here are the four we recommend, with the driving time from the Mas.
| Trail | Loop | From the Mas |
|---|---|---|
| Chemin des Combettes, Saint-Alban-Auriolles | 6 km · 2 h · +119 m | 35 min |
| Chemin du Ranc de Figère, Labeaume | 9 km · 3 h 30 · +312 m | 35 min |
| Chemin de la montagne de la Serre, Grospierres | 6 km · 3 h · +375 m | 40 min |
| Chemin des Divols, Beaulieu | 5 or 9 km · 9 km: 3 h 30, +481 m | 45 min |
Chemin des Combettes — the easiest
Starting from Saint-Alban-Auriolles, an easy 6-kilometre loop, about two hours on foot. Along the way: two dolmens, a capitelle (one of the dry-stone shepherds’ huts of the region) and a spring in the heart of the village. The walk to do as a family, with children.
Chemin du Ranc de Figère — around Labeaume
Nine kilometres from the Maison de Labeaume, in the area richest in dolmens in the whole department. The walk ends in the stone village on the banks of the Beaume, one of the most beautiful in the southern Ardèche. A shorter version is available for little legs.
Grospierres and Beaulieu — for keen walkers
The Chemin de la montagne de la Serre, in Grospierres, leads to two dolmens and passes close to an ancient hill fort. The Chemin des Divols, starting from Beaulieu, links three dolmens, 360° viewpoints and medieval ruins. Both are more demanding, with real climbs: good walking shoes are essential.
Route maps are available from the Gorges de l’Ardèche and Cévennes d’Ardèche tourist offices. To go further, the Cité de la Préhistoire at the Aven d’Orgnac, about an hour from the Mas, holds much of the archaeological material found in the area; check its off-season opening hours before you go.
How to treat a dolmen
These monuments are fragile, and their surroundings matter as much as the slabs themselves. Don’t climb on a dolmen and don’t move the stones around it: they often belong to the original mound and hold valuable information for archaeologists. Digging is prohibited. Look, take photos, and leave everything as you found it.
A dolmen day, from the Mas
Autumn is the best season for these walks. In summer the scrubland is scorching and the gorges are busy; in October and November the air is crisp, the oaks turn and you often have the trails to yourselves.
A typical day: set off after breakfast, drive half an hour south, walk the Labeaume or Saint-Alban-Auriolles loop in the morning, have lunch in a village in the valley, and come back to the Mas late in the afternoon. In the evening the private chef takes over, and those who have walked furthest can book a massage. Discover all our experiences.
For a full weekend, pair the dolmens of the south with the Coiron plateau, just above the Mas, and, until 8 November, with the village chestnut festivals.
Your questions about the dolmens of the Ardèche
How many dolmens are there in the Ardèche?
865 recorded dolmens, a record in France, ahead of Brittany. They are concentrated in the south of the department, on the limestone plateaus of the Bas-Vivarais, and new ones are still being discovered every year.
How old are they?
The first were built in the Neolithic, around 3000 BC, some five thousand years ago. They are collective burial chambers, used over several centuries.
Where can you see dolmens in the Ardèche?
The easiest way is to follow the waymarked discovery trails: the Combettes in Saint-Alban-Auriolles, the Ranc de Figère in Labeaume, the montagne de la Serre in Grospierres and the Divols in Beaulieu. All the details are in the table above.
Where to stay to visit the dolmens?
Le Mas de Louise is a family house with 8 suites in Lussas, 30 to 45 minutes from the main trails. It is available for exclusive hire only, for up to 15 guests: families, friends, retreats and seminars. Discover the suites and the region around the Mas.
Practical
- Conference
- Ruoms, 14 to 17 October 2026 · public day on Saturday 17, registration required
- Trails
- Open all year round · 35 to 45 min from the Mas
- Good to know
- Don’t climb on the dolmens or move the stones
- Booking
- Exclusive hire only, up to 15 guests
- Read next
- The Coiron plateau, the Ardèche’s forgotten volcano
To plan your autumn stay, see our availability and rates, or get in touch with Louise directly.