habitat rupestre.pdf - Società Friulana di Archeologia

E. Crescenzi, M. C. Ménardhibition centre. The rehabilitation of certain of these cavesinto troglodytic B&B and restaurants also contributes to anunderstanding and the preservation of this heritage.The enhancement and conservation of these cavities as mainresidences or holiday homes, exhibition-workshop spaces,events area and tourist attractions requires that a certainlevel of comfort and safety be provided. These measures areencouraged and even subsidised by local authorities, DRAC(regional cultural affairs directorate) and, to a certain extent,BRGM, as well as by the very active local associations.Wine production is a very ancient practice on the Loir hillsidesas the vines profit from the gentle climate. In addition,the cavities are able to offer an ideal and virtually constanttemperature favourable for the maturation and conservationof the wine. Many of these caves have been transformed intolarge wine cellars.Thoré la Rochette is known as a centre of wine producingactivities and wine-based troglodytic visits. 4The conversion of large quarriesAs we have seen, certain caves and cavities have been rehabilitatedwhile others have been put to new uses. This, forexample, is the case of the large Villavard and Tablinièresquarries that have been converted into mushroom farms.Mushroom cultivation, discovered by Olivier de Serres,dates back to the early 18th century. These immense gallerieswhere the hygrometry and temperature can be maintainedat an almost constant level provide perfect settings forthis type of farming.Other cave-dwelling itineraries can be taken to visit cavesthat had been used as gathering places for those practicingpagan and Christian beliefs. They are often located in placesthat are difficult and dangerous to reach. They include the StGervais complex in Roches l’ Evêque, the St Gabriel chapelin Trôo which was destroyed by the collapse of the cliff andthe “cave des Vierges” (the cave of virgins) above the Reclusageshermitage near Lavardin. These fairly mysterious settingsbear witness to the strong popular beliefs that existedin those times. The very damaged frescos of the St Gervaischapel reveal that these cavities were located along one of theSt Jacques de Compostelle pilgrimage routes.Remaining within the framework of conserving and enhancingthis troglodytic heritage, we are able to propose acave-dwelling itinerary based on the history and culturalidentity of the Bas-Vendômois, beginning with the history ofthe Montoire, Lavardin 5 and Vendôme fortress castles builtin the 11th and 12th centuries, their defence systems and,above all, their underground refuges. These are to be foundthroughout and allowed the lords and their populations totake shelter in the case of invasions or wars between neighbouringcounties.In a more pacific manner – but we are already in the 15thand 16th centuries – the Possonnière manor in Couture surLoir, birthplace of the poet Ronsard, still retains part of itstroglodytic dovecote.To conclude, the Centre de la France region has a large numberof anthropic type troglodytic settings. This historic heritageand the resulting local collective imagination are used byassociations and tourist offices to promote the region. Morespecifically, insofar as the Bas-Vendômois is concerned, weFig. 13 Trôo, Grape pressing cave.Fig. 14 Trôo, private cave-dwelling.Fig. 15 Trôo, private cave-dwelling.145volumeRicerca_OK_2012-11-15.indd 145 16/11/2012 15:02:35