Key facts
- The French village of Trôo features cave homes that stay naturally cool year-round.
- These dwellings maintain indoor temperatures around 20 degrees Celsius during heatwaves.
- The natural cooling effect reduces the need for air conditioning in summer.
- Growing visitor interest is noted due to climate change and frequent heatwaves.
As France experiences increasingly frequent and intense heatwaves, the troglodyte village of Trôo, located north of Tours, is drawing attention for its unique architectural advantage: homes carved directly into rock that provide a natural escape from extreme temperatures. Residents of these cave dwellings report that the thick surrounding rock maintains a stable indoor temperature of approximately 20 degrees Celsius, even when external temperatures climb above 35 degrees Celsius. This natural insulation significantly reduces the need for artificial cooling during summer months and helps retain warmth in winter. Jean-Luc Eclercy-Deterpigny, chairman of the local tourism association, described cave living as "an incredible stroke of luck" in the context of climate change. The village, which features several kilometers of underground tunnels and permanently inhabited cave homes, is seeing growing interest from visitors seeking sustainable solutions to adapt to rising global temperatures.