Barry Troglodyte Village

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.