Visite des Grottes fortifiées de Villecroze

Villecroze’s troglodytic caves are cozily settled in the heart of a sunny cliff made of tufa. They successively belonged to Benedictine monks, to the local Lord (who fortified it) and eventually to the Municipality.

You will discover, over 5 levels, mullioned windows, arrow-slits, a passage behind the waterfall, small water reserves with numerous varied concretions, including large stalactites and frames of lacy tufa.

They formerly belonged to the Benedictines who took refuge there during the Saracen invasions. Vigilants, they lived there perhaps, defended themselves surely, escaped them sometimes without doubt by the enormous orifice of a monumental chimney which debouched on the top of the cave.

It was at this time of the IXth century that the caves, of natural origin, were used for the purpose of protection against the invader and that transformations were made there: loopholes, bars of protection of the exits transformed the places in underground fortresses .
From the 12th century, Villecroze flourished, vigilance was relaxed, surveillance seems to have abandoned the caves and these deprived of human presence has suffered the wear of time.

Due to their historical and geological significance, the caves were classified in 1924 as "Artstic Monuments".