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Troglodytes in the Loire Valley
As you explore the
Loire
Valley
you cannot fail to notice the abundance of dwellings dug
into the slopes and rock faces of the landscape. These
are referred to as troglodytes and are the results of
the local people’s desire to use their environment to
its full potential. The stone that these dwellings are cut from is
soft, manageable and easy to work, so they had the
double benefit of selling the quarried stone while
creating a living space for their families. The
troglodytes have the advantage of staying at a fairly
constant 12 degrees centigrade thus making them a good
all year round habitat that provided heat in winter and
cool in summer as well as good protection from the
elements. The nearest to Barrou are the
troglodytes at St.Remy-sur-Cruise
(photo above).
Drive through La Guerche
(admire the chateau on the river)
onto
the D5 and head through Leugny
in the direction of Descartes and you will find them on
your left as you enter the village.
Other fine examples of inhabited
troglodytes are to be found overlooking the
Loire,
between
Saumur
and Montsoreau.
Less obvious are the troglodytes that are
cut out of plains and the only indication of their
presence is the odd chimney top peeking through the
ground! These were more likely dug as a means of
protection and as a place of concealment from any
potential invaders plus in times of hardship and
shortages they offered a good alternative, easily
sustained habitat.
A very good example of this is the
Troglodyte village of
Rochemenier which is in the commune of
Louresse-Rochemenier
24km
west of Saumur and 6 km NW of Doue-la-Fontaine,
just of the D761. Part of the troglodyte village has
been retained as a museum to a way of life that was
still in existence in the 1930’s. You are presented with
a plan which leads you through the twenty rooms of the
village consisting of two ancient farms with
out-buildings and houses plus a spectacular underground
chapel carved out of the rock. As you reflect on how it
must have been to live in these small dwellings you are
shown a modernised room that you could survive
relatively comfortably in today.
The impression given
however
is
that the village’s inhabitants must have been really
‘close’ to have lived in such a tight knit community.
This is a good place to take children as
apart from the historical interest they’ll love
exploring the caves --- oh and by the way—“MIND YOUR
HEAD!”
The village
is open April 1st – November
1st (9.30am-7.00pm)
November, February and March :
Saturday, Sunday and local public holidays from (2.00pm-6.00pm)
Original source of information :
experienceloire.com/troglodytes.htm
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