In and around the village of Montsoreau are some of the strangest houses in France

Montsoreau, Maison-Roche

Montsoreau is a lovely little village not to be missed if you are in the Loire Valley near Saumur. The village is on the banks of the River Loire near the where the Loire and Vienne rivers meet. At this point, the Loire is classified as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. It is the largest area to be designated a UNESCO site in France.

Troglodyte caves, such as the one above, some of which are still occupied, can be found all over the Loire Valley, cut out of cliff faces or dug underground. Many have had elaborate frontages added and can be surprisingly comfortable with the added bonus of the house being very quiet!

The picture of of The Trogladite cave at Montsoreau is copyright and courtesy of Les Plus Beaux Villages de France organisation.