We almost didn't believe the above-pictured French cave homes exist - they look so marvelously magical and charming. But the great news is that they do. Such fantasy really does exist!
Located in the cliffside looking out over France's Loire Valley, the cave homes are actually the result of quarrying for stone. The spaces carved out by quarrying back in the 11th century made room for small, modest cave homes complete with front doors and chimneys.
Today, some caves are still occupied - a few as homes and others as attractions like restaurants or galleries. Read more about the cave homes of the Loire Valley at Smithsonian.com.
What we wouldn't give to see them in person. We've located at least one way to even stay in one: Cave Yuccas.
Images: Smithsonian.com
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That's awesome. Are these not made anymore? Anything like this in the US?
Hey, we were there at Easter!
The underground caves of the chateau where we were staying, the Chateau de Ternay, were used as a film location for a French Laetitia Casta film being released this month:
http://www.facebook.com/derrierelesmurs
The chateau with the most amazing caves though, is the Chateau de Brezé. Essentially, there was a whole world underground in the caves before any building was ever built on the surface. Kitchens, stables, living areas...
http://www.chateaudebreze.com/index.html?lg=gb
Our trip in the Loire Valley was one of the best vacations we've ever taken; there is so much to be discovered there. Two weeks doesn't do it justice!
This reminds me of the Mesa Verde cliff dwellings in Colorado.
http://boingboing.net/2009/02/20/cave-house-for-sale.html
One American example...
no..i do not envy Frodo, Merry, or Peregrin Took. ...
We went to a zoo in the region built around some old, no longer used caves. They're mostly used for walkways now in the zoo but every now and then you came across an old brick oven in them. A rather interesting zoo.
This is the Turkish version, http://www.anatolianhouses.com.tr/en/index.html