You may not have known this, but just an hour from Paris lies a truly incredible village. Head to the Val-d’Oise, and more specifically the Seine Valley, to discover the village of Haute-Isle. Carved entirely out of limestone, it will dazzle you with its beauty and its very unique charm.
Haute-Isle: a troglodyte village located just outside Paris
Tucked away in the magnificent French Vexin Regional Nature Park, thevillage ofHaute-Isle,located 1.5 hours from Paris, willtransport you to another era… Carved into the rock, it is one of the few in the region to be a troglodyte village.
Houses, shops… almost everything is carved into the limestone. A way of living naturally insulated from the cold and heat that dates back to prehistoric times! While the village has expanded today, you can still admire a few old troglodyte houses that stretch out inan amphitheater above the Seine. You’ll be charmed by its church, the Annunciation of Haute-Isle, one of only five in France to have been carved into the rock, as well as by its picturesque streets and artists’ studios.
To enjoy the tranquility of the place, the soft light that bathes the Seine, and the uniqueness of the troglodytic architecture, we recommend taking the heritage trail,which stretches 2.3 km and allows you to explore the troglodytic alleyways. You can explore galleries carved into the rock, admire ancient frescoes, part of the troglodyte village, and a few other points of interest.
With the Seine as a backdrop, this little slice of unusual paradise will transport you to another world! A magical getaway to treat yourself to for aweekend.