The Loire Valley has been inhabited for thousands of years and the early settlers made their homes in caves tunnelled out of the limestone rock. As people started to become more comfort conscious they added an outside wall, doors and windows and then fireplaces and other creature comforts. Many are still lived in today and some of them are truly magnificent homes. I was rather taken this afternoon by this rather more modest example which is probably used as a holiday home.
@joansmor I'm glad you're fascinated but I don't understand what you mean about "a touch of colour would have been nice" - this is as colourful as it gets... the door and shutter really are that grey colour!
@joansmor Oh, I see - well the commission for historic buildings requires everything to blend in with the natural stone colours as would have been the case many hundreds of years ago.
The front wall is very smooth and almost new looking. Interesting when seen with the surrounding rocks, old stone walls and rusted gate. Not sure that I would appreciate calling this home.
There's a town in Siythern Italy, Matera, where an entire neighborhood is made of inhabited caves, they call it "I Sassi" (the rocks). Some of then have been transformed into beautiful hotels now. Curious how similar habits are spread over the world.
Having been in some of these dwellings, can only say they are remarkable. Cool in hot weather, yet cooler otherwise and generally heated during such periods.
