Grottes Pétrifiantes de Savonnières

[2] The Romans were present in the caves, as evidenced by the discovery of pottery, manual mills, and a graveyard, with seven gravestones remaining.

[3] The grottoes were mostly formed during the Middle Ages, the stone (tuffeau) being used to build châteaux.

They were visited by Bernard Palissy in 1547, and an extension (the second grotto) was discovered by a speleologist (Gilles) in 1947.

They were added to ANECAT (Association Nationale des Exploitants de Cavernes Aménagées pour le Tourisme), and have since become a popular tourist attraction.

[4] Objects are put under the grottoes' springs for six months to a year, which covers them in limestone, creating a "petrified" look.