Located 15 km from Tours and 1 km from the Chateau de Villandry, you can visit the famous Caves of Savonnières.
This old tuffeau (soft Touraine stone) quarries transformed within many centuries and present today to the visitors, a world of shadow and light, water and rock. You will discover astounding landscapes with glittering concretions, petrified waterfalls, stalactites, draperies, a subterranean lake, Gallo-roman cemetery and ruins and an original representation of prehistoric life.
This enchanting natural curiosity was made known by Bernard Palissy in 1547. The streaming water, tamed by man covers the objects and engraves calcite engravings with the hollow of the gum moulds and recreates astonishing low-reliefs carried out according to lithographic stones dating from the 19th century. You can admire the craftsmanship of art form exposed in the museum of petrifaction. Rosé wine tasting is also offered in the very unforgettable surroundings of the caves. Commented and guided tour. Free rosé wine tasting in the caves. 

> TO CONTACT THE PETRIFYING CAVES OF SAVONNIERES
61 route des Grottes Pétrifiantes 37510 SAVONNIÈRES
Tel : +33.2.47.50.00.09 / Fax : +33.2.47.50.01.03
Web Site : www.grottes-savonnieres.com
Email : infos@grottes-savonnieres.com

> PRICES 2010
Individuals :
- Adults : 6.50 €
- Students : 5.50 €
- Children (from 5 to 18 years old) : 4.90 € (free under 5 years old)
Groups : (from 20 persons)
- Adults : 5.50 €
Free for accompanying adult (1 for 10 + driver)
- Children : 4.50 €
Free for accompanying adult (1 for 10 children)

> SCHEDULES 2010
- From 6^th february to 31^st march : from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Last visit at 5:00 PM)
- From 1^st april to 30^th september : from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM (Last visit at 6:00 PM)
- From 1^st october to 14^th november : from 2:00 PM to 6:00 PM (Last visit at 5:00 PM)

The vault is situated inside an old manor which was renovated at the beginning of the 17th century at the place of buildings of 15th century. The manor is divided today into 3 properties. When you enter into this family house, bought in 1872 by themselves and remain in the same state since this date, you could first admire the hall which has a splendid staircase out of carved wooden with old balusters dating from 17th century. The vault is of origin and comes from the 15th century old building. It is made up of a rectangular room, and an apse with three sides built out of brick, originally open worked by three windows in gothic arch. Inside the vault you could appreciate antiques religious objects but mainly a ceiling extraordinarily well preserved, painted and divided into 174 decorated compartments. It was created in 1636.

This ceiling will perhaps reveal you many others secrets?

> NOVELTIES 2010
In the dependences, you can discover the cowshed, the barn and its tools of formerly ; the bakery and its baker's oven, with its baskets of wicker cooking. Transformed today into wine cellar, barrels, tools and bronze faucets are exposed.

> TO CONTACT THE VAULT OF "LA BAILLARDIERE"
Mr Jack Rochereau
La Baillardère
37510 BERTHENAY
Mobil phone : +33 6 73 40 36 20 
Tel. : +33 2 47 50 05 61

> PRACTICAL INFORMATIONS
Price : Entrance is free
Opening hours : Open all the year from the 15^th of june to the 15^th of septembre - from 9:00 to 12:00 AM and from 2:00 to 7:00 PM on saturday, monday, thursday and eastern week. Please book for the others days.

In an exceptional setting, this place shows a great whole of troglodytes farms dug in the Tuffeau rocks where the farmers used to live until the last century. The way of life of this period is reconstituted with animals, wells, bread oven, cow-shed, silo.
The escape-underground dug during the Middle-Age by the farmers to protect them from attacks of thieves is remarkable and ingenious.
You will also discover a little vineyard house (typically tourangelle) built by the wine producer at the end of the 19th century. And children can have fun in their hut, the fort and the house of the witch.

Family Operation « Dans la Cour des Grands » : a little and funny questionnaire to interest children and family into the understanding of the visit.

Snack on display : le "Troglodyte Gourmand" proposes traditionnal tartines, crepes, ice-creams home-made and beverages.

> TO CONTACT THE GOUPILLIERE TROGLODYTIC VALLEY
« Les Goupillières »
37190 AZAY-LE-RIDEAU
Tel : +33 2 47 96 60 84 and +33 2 47 45 46 89
Fax : +33 2 47 96 50 25
Website : www.troglodytedesgoupillieres.com
Email : contact@troglodytedesgoupillieres.fr

> PRICES 2010
Adults : 6 €
Children from 5 to 12 years : 4,50 €
Less than 5 years : free

> EVENTS 2010
- 11th July : Fête des Petits Paysans from 10.00 AM to 7.00 PM
- 8th August : Fête du Goupil from 10.00 AM to 7.00 PM
- NEW : In Alphonse's farm. Dressed up animations. Illuminations of the troglodytic valley. From July 14th to August 19th, every Thursday at 9:30 PM

> OPENING HOURS 2010
From 6^th February to 7^th March : Every days from 2:00 to 5:30 PM
From 13^th March to 28^th March : Every days from 2:00 to 6:00 PM
From 3^th April to 14^th November : Every days from 10:00 AM to 7:00 PM