Village Troglodyte de Trôo

Useful Information

Location:	39 Rue Auguste Arnault, 41800 Troo. (47.7756860, 0.7920645)
Open:	Grotte pétrifiante: All year but quite complicated, see website. ResTrôo: APR Sat, Sun 11:30-17:30. MAY Mon, Tue, Fri-Sun 11:30-18. JUN Sat, Sun 11:30-17:30. JUL to AUG Mon, Tue, Fri-Sun 11:30-18:30. SEP Sat, Sun 11:30-17:30. Cave Yuccas: APR to OCT but quite complicated, see website. [2026]
Fee:	Grotte pétrifiante: Adults EUR 2. ResTrôo: free. Cave Yuccas: Adults EUR 3, Children (0-11) free. Groups: Adults EUR 2.50. [2026]
Classification:	Unterirdische Städte
Light:	Electric Light
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Guided tours:
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Bibliography:
Address:	Mairie de Trôo, Place Sainte-Catherine, 41800 Trôo, Tel: +33-2-54-73-55-00. E-mail: Grotte Pétrifiante, 39 Rue Auguste Arnault, 41800 Trôo, Tel: +33-7-86-73-58-38. E-mail: Les Voûtes de Trôo, 41800 Trôo. E-mail: Cave Yuccas, 14 rue Gouffier, 41800 Trôo, Tel: +33-7-86-73-58-38. E-mail: 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

neolithic	settlement since the neolithic, later inhabited by the Gauls.
1st century	Roman oppidum called Pagus Labricinensis.
9th century	Landry Sore, Charles the Bald’s Missus Dominicus, establishes a line of fortresses at Oucques, Fréteval, Vendôme, Lavardin, Montoire, Trôo and La Chartre against the Norman attacks.

Description

The Village Troglodyte de Trôo (subterranean village of Trôo) is named such, because numerous houses were built into the cliff faces. Some say it has more than 500 cave dwellings carved into limestone and tufa. This area along the Loire river is famous for its subterranea and underground cities, but this one is located far north of the central distribution area. It is not a museum, it is a living village, the cave houses are inhabited. Trôo was probably named after trou (French for hole), but it was wrongly pronounced by the occupying English.

The cave houses are located along the rue haute (High Street) and are locally called caforts. There was an underground chapel, known under the name of St. Gabriel, which attracted many pilgrims to Trôo, but the chapel is mostly gone. Nearby is an underground laundry. There is a cave which is freely accessible called La Source "Rue Haute", which was actually built to collect the water of a spring. The museum is also located in such caves.

The construction of the caves was started during the 11th and 12th century. Today the village is the best restored cave village in France. Most of the caves are renovated and in use. Located in the steep slopes of a steep hill, most caves offer a magnificent view of the countryside. These homes are spacious and the large windows and doors let in the sunlight, actually not what one would expect from cave dwellings.

We recommend to take a full day, start at the tourist office at the place de la Libèration, where you can get a map of the village. From here it’s a short hike uphill which will lead you to the following cave sites.

Grotte pétrifante (Petrifying Cave) is an originally natural cave in tufa, which means it’s a primary cave which was spared by the growing rock. Strangely the walls and the vaulted ceiling look artificial. They are the result of an extension and the cave was used by the already mentioned Saint-Gabriel Chapel for many years. The rock is tuffeau or tufa, and it still grows, and so the artificial looking room has stalactites and even the basin of the chapel is overgrown by a stalagmite. It seems they placed it at a spot with dripping water to collect the water. Immediately the limestone started to grow, but with a growth rate of 1 cm per century it took some time.

ResTrôo, or with full name Le ResTrôo de la Cave du vigneron (ResTrôo in the winemaker's cellar), is a troglodyte restaurant, they actually say they are the only cave restaurant here. Cave du vigneron is obviously a proper name, not just a description. The restaurant is inside the cellar which is decorated with winemaking tools, actually it’s a small vineyard museum, but also has a terrace with several tables. They also have a shop selling local products like honey, wine, apple juice, cheese, and more.

Les Voûtes de Trôo is a cave house which was renovated by the owners and is now a Ferienwohnung which may be booked on Airbnb. It is quite modern, has all amenities including wifi and a large flatscreen with Netflix, Amazon Prime, and Xbox Pass. It houses up to 16 guests, but the prices start from € 150 per night, and there are discounts for weekly stays. So if you want to see the cave sites of the area this is a nice base camp.

Cave Yuccas (Yuccas Cellar) is a troglodytic house which was inhabited until 1965. It is now a local history museum. It seems there is also a holiday home refreshments and pancake tasting on the terrace.