Les Perrières, Underground historic site and museum in Doué-en-Anjou, France.
Les Perrières is an underground limestone complex with multiple rooms and chambers dug directly into the cliff face. The site contains nine main rooms, a dining hall, and other chambers that developed over centuries of occupation.
Local people used these caves for shelter and storage across different periods of history. Three families continued living in the underground rooms until the 1970s, making this one of France's last inhabited troglodyte settlements.
The caves reveal how families lived underground by carving rooms directly into limestone to suit their needs. Visitors can see sleeping areas, kitchens, and storage spaces that show how people adapted to life below the surface.
The site is accessible for wheelchair users and can accommodate groups and guided tours. Visitors should expect cool underground temperatures and wear sturdy footwear for exploring the caves.
The site remained lived-in into the modern era, which made it one of Europe's rare examples of an actively inhabited troglodyte settlement. The final family did not leave until 1976, showing how recent the shift away from underground living actually was.
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