Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
Loading...
Loading...

No search results found for
“”

Make sure words are spelled correctly.

Try searching for a travel destination.

Places near me Random place

Popular Destinations

  • Paris
  • London
  • New York
  • Berlin
  • Rome
  • Los Angeles
Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Savonnières Les Grottes Pétrifiantes

Les Grottes Pétrifiantes

Limestone grottoes turns everyday objects into stone.

Savonnières, France

Josh profile photo
Added By
Joshua Foer
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes.   Duch.seb/cc by-sa 3.0
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes.   Duch.seb/cc by-sa 3.0
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes.   Duch.seb/cc by-sa 3.0
  Celine / Atlas Obscura User
  Celine / Atlas Obscura User
  Celine / Atlas Obscura User
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes.   Duch.seb/cc by-sa 3.0
  Celine / Atlas Obscura User
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

Objects left for six months to a year under the mineral-rich springs of the petrifying grottoes of Savonnières, France, emerge coated in a perfectly pure white layer of limestone. Bas-relief molds left in the cave for two years at a time (turned once every fortnight) produce fully formed architectural ornaments. The adjacent Museum of Petrifaction collects these beautiful petrified objects--each a marriage of art and nature--for public display and sale.

The grottoes, located just outside the city of Tours, also contain a collection of stalagmites and stalactites, an underground lake, a Gallo-Roman cemetery, and a model of a large and fearsome prehistoric lizard.

Places

Discover your next amazing Atlas Place.

Get more unusual and extraordinary places each week with the Atlas Obscura Places newsletter.

Your newsletter subscriptions with us are subject to Atlas Obscura's Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Know Before You Go

M10, exit 24, follow RD7 in the direction of Villandry. The Savonnieres' petrifying grottoes are situated at the Savonnieres' exit. Free car park.

Community Contributors

Josh profile photo

Added By

Josh

Ella Morton profile photo Kerry Wolfe profile photo C Celine profile photo L lverchel profile photo

Edited By

Ella Morton, Kerry Wolfe, Celine, lverchel

  • Ella Morton profile photo Ella Morton
  • Kerry Wolfe profile photo Kerry Wolfe
  • C Celine profile photo Celine
  • L lverchel profile photo lverchel

Published

October 2, 2009

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • http://www.grottes-savonnieres.com/

Related Tags

Caves Ecosystems
Les Grottes Pétrifiantes
Route des Grottes Pétrifiantes
Savonnières, 37510
France
47.3458, 0.5314
Visit Website
Get Directions

Nearby Places

Musee du Compagnonnage

Tours, France

miles away

Leonardo da Vinci's Tomb

Amboise, France

miles away

Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 765
Stories 75

Nearby Places

Musee du Compagnonnage

Tours, France

miles away

Leonardo da Vinci's Tomb

Amboise, France

miles away

Fontevraud Abbey

Fontevraud-l'Abbaye, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 765
Stories 75

Related Places

  • Al Hoota Cave

    Al Hamra, Oman

    Al Hoota Cave

    The biggest cave system in the Arabian Peninsula is home to a rare variety of blind fish.

  • Cape Flattery

    Neah Bay, Washington

    Cape Flattery

    At the most northwestern point of the contiguous United States lies a trail leading through an ancient forest to stunning cliff-side vistas and massive oceanside caves.

  • Lacy's Caves

    Penrith, England

    Lacy's Caves

    A series of idealized caves carved to entertain guests.

  • Front view.

    Athens, Greece

    Caves of Filopappou Hill

    These caves secretly held national treasures during World War II.

  • Entrance to the ice cave at Bixby State Preserve.

    Edgewood, Iowa

    Ice Cave of Bixby State Preserve

    Chilly air billows out from the entrance of an abandoned mine on a steep hillside, providing a refuge for Ice Age fauna and flora.

  • Inside one of the stone dwellings.

    Soriano nel Cimino, Italy

    Corviano

    This archaeological site built into a tuff outcrop is filled with rock dwellings, the ruins of a medieval castle, and a necropolis.

  • Vie Cave

    Sorano, Italy

    Vie Cave

    This network of roads is one of the most unique Etruscan creations ever discovered.

  • Mumiengrotte (Mummy's Cave)

    Flensburg, Germany

    Mumiengrotte (Mummy's Cave)

    Located in the middle of public park, this cave built in the early 19th century houses an ancient stone sarcophagus.

Aerial image of Vietnam, displaying the picturesque rice terraces, characterized by their layered, verdant fields.
Atlas Obscura Membership

Become an Atlas Obscura Member


Join our community of curious explorers.

Become a Member

Get Our Email Newsletter

Follow Us

Facebook YouTube TikTok Instagram Pinterest RSS Feed

Get the app

Download the App
Download on the Apple App Store Get it on Google Play
  • All Places
  • Latest Places
  • Most Popular
  • Places to Eat
  • Random
  • Nearby
  • Add a Place
  • Stories
  • Food & Drink
  • Itineraries
  • Lists
  • Video
  • Podcast
  • Newsletters
  • All Trips
  • Membership
  • Feedback & Ideas
  • Community Guidelines
  • Product Blog
  • Unique Gifts
  • Work With Us
  • About
  • FAQ
  • Advertise With Us
  • Advertising Guidelines
  • Privacy Policy
  • Cookie Policy
  • Terms of Use
Atlas Obscura

© 2026 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.