Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Loading...
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
Trips Places Foods Stories Newsletters
Sign In Join
Places near me Random place
All France Bollène Barry Troglodyte Village

Barry Troglodyte Village

Series of underground houses inhabited continuously for centuries.

Bollène, France

Added By
Chryseis
Email
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list
CAPTION
(paul_appleyard/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_appleyar...
(paul_appleyard/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_appleyar...
(paul_appleyard/Flickr)   http://www.flickr.com/photos/paul_appleyar...
Been Here
Want to go
Added to list

About

The Barry Troglodyte Village ("Village troglodytique de Barry") is a series of underground houses that were inhabited continuously—as far as we know—from the Neolithic era to the early 20th century.

After being lived in for centuries, the houses started to fall apart in the 18th century. From 500 CE to the 1800s, the number of inhabitants in the village fell to only about 50. At the beginning of the 20th century, only one widow and her servant remained in the village, and they were convinced to leave after a number of collapses killed off their neighbors.

Overlooking the Rhone Valley, the hill that contains the village was a strategically chosen site. From the top of the forested, shady hill, you can view far to the north, west, and south and watch for approaching threats.

Archeologists digging in the area have found Paleolithic arrow heads, knives, Neolithic polished-stone axes, and a collection of other prehistoric tools.

Related Tags

Architectural Oddities Architecture

Know Before You Go

Driving north only 2 km from Bollène on the D26, the turnoff is marked to the right. The small road zig-zags up a narrow valley and ends at the village.

Community Contributors

Added By

Chryseis

Edited By

nbj914

  • nbj914

Published

February 15, 2011

Edit this listing

Make an Edit
Add Photos
Sources
  • Subterranea of France: Barry Troglodyte Village: http://www.showcaves.com/english/fr/misc/Barry.html
  • Barry Troglodyte Village: http://www.beyond.fr/sites/barry.html
Barry Troglodyte Village
Route de Saint-Restitut
Bollène, 84500
France
44.301718, 4.772716
Get Directions

Nearby Places

The Hallucinations of Pont-Saint-Esprit

Pont-Saint-Esprit, France

miles away

Musée d'art Moderne St Just D'Ardeche

Saint-Just-d'Ardèche, France

miles away

Relics of St. Valentine

Roquemaure, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Nearby Places

The Hallucinations of Pont-Saint-Esprit

Pont-Saint-Esprit, France

miles away

Musée d'art Moderne St Just D'Ardeche

Saint-Just-d'Ardèche, France

miles away

Relics of St. Valentine

Roquemaure, France

miles away

Explore the Destination Guide

Photo of France

France

Europe

Places 692
Stories 72

Related Places

  • The Cathedral Café has been serving its community for more than 120 years.

    Fayetteville, West Virginia

    Cathedral Café

    Soak in the sacred vibes at this beloved food and coffee hangout inside a former church.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Lansing, West Virginia

    Bridge Walk

    In West Virginia, you can walk across the longest single-arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

    Sponsored by West Virginia Department of Tourism
  • Petrópolis, Brazil

    Belvedere do Grinfo

    This spaceship-like structure was once a popular roadside restaurant.

  • Créteil, France

    Choux de Créteil

    A cluster of cylindrical apartment buildings nod to the city’s vegital past.

  • Jaraba, Spain

    Santuario de la Virgen de Jaraba

    A medieval shrine set into a towering canyon wall.

  • Tokyo, Japan

    Tsukiji Hongan-ji Temple

    A grand Buddhist temple with Indian influences.

  • What appears to be an ancient Greek ruin is, in fact, a colossal mess.

    Edinburgh, Scotland

    National Monument of Scotland

    A never-finished memorial to the heroes of the Napoleonic War has become "Scotland's Folly."

  • Pause to admire Jože Plečnik’s masterpiece.

    Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Triple Bridge

    Inspired by the Rialto Bridge in Venice, these three clustered bridges were just one part of a Slovenian architect’s grand vision.

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
  • Family Trip
  • Food & Drink
  • History & Culture
  • Wildlife & Nature
  • FAQ
  • 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

© 2025 Atlas Obscura. All Rights Reserved.