Centre des Perrières

Useful Information

Location:	545 rue des Perrières, Doué-la-Fontaine, 49700 Doue-En-Anjou. 7 rue d’Anjou, Doué-la-Fontaine, 49700 Doue-En-Anjou. (47.1910084, -0.2614832)
Open:	03-APR to 15-JUN Tue to Sun 14:30-18:30. 16-JUN to 16-SEP Tue to Sun 10:30-18:30. 18-SEP to 04-NOV Tue to Sun 14:30-18:30. Guide tours at 11, 15, 17. [2007]
Fee:	Self guided: Adults EUR 4, Children (3-18) EUR 2.50. Guided: Adults EUR 5, Children (3-18) EUR 3. [2007]
Classification:	Rock Mine Cave House
Light:	Electric Light
Dimension:
Guided tours:
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Centre des Perrières, 545 rue des Perrières, 49700 Doué la Fontaine, Tel: +33-241-597129. E-mail:
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

1935	quarries closed.
1955	mushroom farm opened.
1970	mushroom farm closed.
1989	Centre des Perrières opened to the public.

Description

Les Perrières (The Quarries) is actually a site with two quarries and three different venues. We always try to list each venue on its own page, but here we failed. So there is the Mystère des Faluns (Mystery of the Faluns), which is an underground art museum or light installation, which has its own page. The other two sites are described on this page. Both are named after Les Perrières, the local term for limestone quarries, and several other sites along the Rue des Perrières have this word as part of their name. Huge areas of the city Doué la Fontaine are hollowed out by the work of centuries. This site with its three parts is located at the corner of rue des Perrières and rue d’Anjou, with entrances from both roads. The main entrance for cars is in rue d’Anjou, with a single lane road leading into the huge quarry which is the official parking lot.

There is a hostel named Hébergement collectif des Perrières (Quarries Shared Accommodation) with 58 beds in nine chambers. It has a reception area seating 70 guests which may be booked for weddings or other feasts. And there is a dining room with kitchen, an amphitheatre with 60 seats and a meeting room with 30 seats. Its actually not a site with open hours, it may be booked by groups and it is a rather cheap accommodation open all year. It’s not possible to visit the site though.

Animation du Parimoine is a sort of historical museum and educational center. This museum of the quarries and their development is located inside an 18th to early 20th century quarry. The Heritage Activities Department of Doué-en-Anjou offers visits, workshops, and activities throughout the year. This includes tours for all audiences, conferences and exhibitions and the Heritage Trail.

The Falun Sea covered this area 11 Ma ago, the deposited sediments were limestone sandstone with many fossils. In the 18th and 19th centuries, farmers exploited the rock to by quarrying blocks of falun stone. They were sold as building stone, and the farmers became quarrymen. Three families lived in Perrières until 1976, then abandoned them for houses on the surface. To preserve it, the local council purchased the site and converted it into a cultural centre and a hostel. The Perrières centre is a living heritage centre which welcomes schoolchildren, family gatherings, and hikers.