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Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières - Azay-le-Rideau
MaisonTroglodyteGoupillieresOuestToursFrance041123 by File Upload Bot (Magnus Manske) / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY-SA 3.0
Troglodyte SiteHistoric SiteOutdoor ActivityFamily-Friendly

Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières, Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau›Indre-et-Loire›Centre-Val de Loire›Western France›France
4.5(2.1K reviews)
1h 30min
1h 30min
€8.5
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Castles of Azay-le-Rideau and Troglodyte Valley

4 attractions · 6h 37min · transit route

Château d'Azay-le-RideauTroglodyte Valley of the GoupillièresBalzac Museum
Estimated cost: €44 for 1 person

Tickets ~€44

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Step-by-step route with transport options and cost breakdown

About Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières

Three peasant farms carved into tuffeau limestone cliffs, occupied from the 10th century until 1905. Located 3 km from the Château d'Azay-le-Rideau, the 2-hectare site preserves wells, bread ovens, stables, grain silos, and a wine grower's lodge that show daily rural life behind the Loire Valley's grand castles. The underground network includes a medieval refuge — the 53rd and last documented underground shelter in Touraine, catalogued by the Archaeological Society of Touraine.

Combine with 3 nearby attractions for a full day

From €44 / person — all tickets and transport included — transit route with total cost breakdown

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The tuffeau limestone used for the cave dwellings is the same material that built the grand Loire Valley castles like Chambord and Chenonceau. Locals called it "l'or de la Touraine" (the gold of Touraine). The peasants who carved these homes were essentially living inside the quarries that supplied stone for their lords' palaces.

Travel Plans for Troglodyte Valley of the Goupillières

Castles of Azay-le-Rideau and Troglodyte Valley
6h 37min

Castles of Azay-le-Rideau and Troglodyte Valley

Azay-le-Rideau

HistoricalCastleRenaissanceand 1 more
Moderate
Car
Public Transit
€44.00

More Travel Plans in Azay-le-Rideau

Explore a city in one day

  • Step-by-step walking route through the city
  • Transport options with travel times and fares
  • Entrance fees and opening hours for every stop
  • Total cost calculated based on your preferences

Day Routes

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Azay-le-Rideau: Two Castles and a Mechanical Museum
5h 55min

Azay-le-Rideau: Two Castles and a Mechanical Museum

Azay-le-Rideau

HistoricalCastleCultural
Relaxed
Car
Public Transit
€41.00
Two Castles of Azay-le-Rideau
3h 35min

Two Castles of Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau

HistoricalCastleGardensand 1 more
Relaxed
Car
Public Transit
€28.00
Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
1h 30min

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau

HistoricalCastleArchitecture
Relaxed
Car
Public Transit
€16.00

Nearby Attractions

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Château d'Azay-le-Rideau
Must-See

Château d'Azay-le-Rideau

Azay-le-Rideau·3 km
CastleRenaissanceUNESCO World Heritage Site+2 more
4.6(17,397)
~1h 30min
Balzac Museum

Balzac Museum

Azay-le-Rideau·4 km
MuseumHistoric Site
4.5(813)
~1h 30min
Château de l'Islette

Château de l'Islette

Azay-le-Rideau·5 km
CastleRenaissanceHistoric Site+1 more
4.6(2,970)
~1h 30min
Maurice Dufresne Museum

Maurice Dufresne Museum

Azay-le-Rideau·8 km
MuseumHistoric SiteFamily-Friendly
4.7(1,554)
~1h 30min
Château de Villandry
Must-See

Château de Villandry

Villandry·9 km
CastleGardenUNESCO World Heritage Site+2 more
4.6(19,956)
~2h 30min
Petrifying Grottos of Savonnières

Petrifying Grottos of Savonnières

Savonnières·10 km
UndergroundNatureLandmark
4.2(2,254)
~1h
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All Azay-le-Rideau Sights
Troglodyte SiteHistoric SiteOutdoor ActivityFamily-Friendly