Maisons troglodytes de Forges, Underground dwellings in Dénezé-sous-Doué, France
The Maisons troglodytes de Forges are houses carved into limestone with multiple rooms, including residential areas and communal spaces below ground level. The network of interconnected underground rooms reveals how these dwellings were hollowed from the rock.
Between the 18th and 19th centuries, inhabitants carved these underground dwellings into tuffeau limestone to create a subterranean settlement. This period reflected the need to create efficient living spaces in the region.
The site shows how ordinary people in this region lived, with preserved rooms including a shared bakery and grape presses that the farming community used together.
Access to the dwellings is through the roofs of the houses, where chimneys protrude from the ground. Visitors should expect uneven terrain and wear appropriate footwear.
The dwellings can be reached by walking on their roofs, where chimneys protrude from the ground among trees and grazing animals. This unusual way of entering a lived-in village creates an unforgettable experience.
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