The Maisons des Rochers de Graufthal are a set of 3 unique semi-troglodyte dwellings nestled beneath pink sandstone cliffs – true hidden gems in France.
Dating back to at least the 18th century, these rock houses were inhabited until 1958 and have since been restored to highlight the local heritage.
Rock houses in France: a bit of history
The major expansion of troglodyte homes occurred after the 11th century, especially when stones like tuffeau limestone were extracted to build castles and churches.
People began using the leftover caves as homes, and many of them can still be found throughout France, particularly in the Loire Valley region.
1. Alsace’s secret homes: why people chose to live in caves
The Maisons des Rochers de Graufthal were built for several practical reasons:
- natural protection from flooding due to their elevated location.
- the houses received direct sunlight every day, making them ideal for both warmth and light.
- building them was relatively simple – only the front and side walls and part of the roof needed to be constructed.
Quality of life in these homes was similar to traditional dwellings of the time: no running water, sewage or electricity.
2. Inside the Maisons des Rochers de Graufthal
Pictured below: building rock houses was simple – only the front, side walls, and part of the roof were added, as the rock provided the rest:
In the video below: inside the bedroom, you can see how bright it is:
Pictured below: a view that’s hard to beat:
Vegetable garden:
3. Extra: cafe and trails
The visit to the houses is fairly short and can be done in about 20 minutes, but it’s definitely worth it. We had a picnic nearby and then went for a walk in the forest afterward – there are several trails.
There’s also a nice Café des Rochers in the center of the village.
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