Les Perrières
Les Perrières (site troglodytique)
An underground quarry cut in the 18th century, with pointed-arch halls rising more than ten meters, nicknamed the 'Falun Cathedral.'
Les Perrières is an underground quarry in Doué-la-Fontaine. From the 18th to the 19th century, workers cut falun stone downward from the surface, leaving rows of pointed-arch halls more than ten meters high that resemble Gothic churches, hence the name 'Cathedral Caves.' Today the site has displays on the history of quarrying and on the fossils of the falun sea that existed millions of years ago. In summer it often hosts concerts and light shows. Admission is about €9, and the guided tour takes about an hour. It can be scheduled on the same day as the zoo.
Opening hours
About 10:00–18:00 (April–November; closed in winter)
Nearby sights
- Troglodytes et Sarcophages
- Bioparc de Doué-la-Fontaine
- Caverne Sculptée de Dénezé-sous-Doué
- Troglodyte Village of Rochemenier
- Collegiate Church of Le Puy-Notre-Dame
- Château de Montreuil-Bellay
- Cadre Noir de Saumur
- Notre-Dame de Cunault