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Origin and history

The Dolmen La Caixa de Rotllan ("Roland tomb" in Catalan) is a funeral monument of the final Neolithic (second half of the third millennium BC), located on a ridge line of the Canigou massif, 830 m above sea level, between Arles-sur-Tech and Montbolo. Built of local granite, it consists of three vertical slabs in the shape of H surmounted by a table, delimiting a rectangular room without corridor, typical of the dolmens of the Pyrénées-Orientales. Its southeast orientation and circular tumulus of 10 m in diameter reflect the funeral practices of the Chalcolithic or early bronze age.

A medieval legend combines this dolmen with knight Roland, hero of Roland's Song, who died at Roncevaux (778). According to local tradition, his body was brought back by his horse, Veillantif, to Vallespir, where he was buried in this tomb. This legend is reinforced by neighboring toponyms, such as the Palet de Rotllan (a game of giant pallets attributed to Roland) or the Abeurador del cavall de Rotllan (a watermark of Roland's horse), as well as by other megaliths related to its folklore, such as the Cova da Rotllan (Corsavy's dolmen).

The dolmen, noted since the Middle Ages, also served as a parish pillar between Arles and Montbolo. Ranked a historic monument in 1889, it has never been the subject of extensive archaeological excavations. The first scientific descriptions date from the 19th century: Jean-Baptiste Renard de Saint-Malo (1837) first confused it with the Palet de Roland, before Alexander-Félix Ratheau (1866) gave a detailed analysis, attributing the dolmens to the Celts (now obsolete theory). Louis Companyo (1861) clarified the distinction between megaliths and natural formations.

Access to the site, marked on IGN maps, is done by two paths from Arles-sur-Tech: a forest track ("Dolmen Road") or the GR 10, with a detour by a marked trail. The walk takes about 1h30. The dolmen, in excellent condition, illustrates the local megalithic architecture (simple plan, south-east orientation, granite materials) and bears witness to the symbolic importance of Carolingian legends in the Catalan Pyrenees.

No archaeological excavation confirmed its precise use, but its structure and tumulus suggest a collective burial, like most dolmens in the region. Its Catalan name and popular narratives highlight the persistence of medieval folklore around megaliths, often associated with heroic or mythical figures. Today, it remains an emblematic site of the megalithic heritage of the Eastern Pyrenees, attracting hikers and history enthusiasts.

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