Grottes troglodytiques de Villecroze, Cave system in Villecroze, France.
The network of caves extends across five levels within a 2.5-hectare park, featuring natural limestone formations and modified living spaces with windows.
The caves, first documented in 1065, served as a refuge for Benedictine monks during the tenth century and were later fortified in the sixteenth century.
The caves demonstrate medieval architectural adaptations through carved living quarters, mullioned windows, and arrow slits integrated into the natural rock formations.
Tours operate from April through October, with extended hours during summer months and tickets priced at 4 euros for adults.
A 35-meter waterfall cascades down the travertine cliffs, continuously depositing minerals that shape the geological structure of the caves.
Location: Villecroze
GPS coordinates: 43.58230,6.27578
Latest update: May 25, 2025 10:50
The Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region combines medieval villages, historical fortifications, and natural areas between the Mediterranean coast and the Alps. The landscape ranges from the lavender-covered plateaus of Valensole to the steep limestone cliffs of the Calanques and alpine passes above 8,900 feet (2,700 meters). Geological formations like the mushroom-shaped Demoiselles Coiffées de Théus and the reddish sandstone rocks of Annot show millions of years of natural shaping. Monasteries such as Abbaye de Sénanque and Thoronet Abbey preserve Cistercian architecture, while villages like Gordes and Les Baux-de-Provence maintain their medieval layouts. The coastal settlements of Èze, Menton, and Gourdon sit on rocky perches above the Côte d'Azur, their narrow streets leading to viewpoints overlooking the sea. The Lérins Islands off Cannes and the Îles d'Hyères offer quieter coastal landscapes with Mediterranean vegetation. Inland, hiking trails like Sentier Martel pass through the Verdon Gorge, while the Vallée des Merveilles displays prehistoric rock engravings in an alpine setting. Fortifications including the Citadelle de Sisteron, Fort Carré in Antibes, and the ruins of Fort de Buoux document centuries of military history at strategic passages and heights.
Cascade de Sillans
7.6 km
Château d'Entrecasteaux
7.9 km
Commanderie du Ruou
5 km
Abbaye de Florièyes
5.2 km
Domaine des Treilles
4.7 km
Église Saint-Pancrace d'Aups
6.5 km
Abbaye de Florièyes
5.2 km
Tholos de la Lauve
3.8 km
Tour de Grimaud
2.2 km
Musée des fossiles de Tourtour
2.2 km
Chapelle de la Commanderie du Ruou
5.3 km
Église de Salernes
4.1 km
Église Saint-Denis de Tourtour
2.4 km
Église de Sillans-la-Cascade
7.8 km
Église de Saint-Antonin-du-Var
8.4 km
Chapelle Saint-Victor de Villecroze
487 m
Chapelle Saint-Jacques ou Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Secours de Salernes
4.2 km
Église Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption de Vérignon
7.9 km
Pont du Gourgaret
4.5 km
Clock tower of Aups
6.6 km
Chapelle Saint-Joseph de Tourtour
2.3 km
Chapelle Saint-Jean-Baptiste de Villecroze
2.2 km
Fontaine place de la Révolution de Salernes
4 km
Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Anges de Villecroze
487 m
Château de Taurenne
5.2 km
Chapelle du Rosaire de Tourtour
2.8 km
Castle of Sillans-la-Cascade
8 km
Chapelle du Petit-Saint-Denis de Tourtour
2.3 kmReviews
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