The prehistory and history of a troglodyte site like no other in the world

A visit to La Roque Saint-Christophe will give you an accurate understanding of the lifestyle and
social organization of these cliff-dwellers, also known as “Troglodytes”.

You will discover the imprint left by our ancestors on the rock as well as a
conservatory of civil engineering machinery reconstructed in homage to these great
medieval builders.

The Grande Terrasse

Known also by the name “Boulevard de l’Humanité”, it is the largest aerial rock shelter in Europe, stretching 984 feet long.

Watch a virtual reality film in our brand-new viewing area created in 2020.

The result of six years of work, this immersive experience reenacts the geological formation of the site and its construction throughout the ages.

The squirrel cage

The most powerful hoisting machine of the Middle Ages, this device would have enabled a builder to lift 7 times his own body weight.

Reconstruction of a medieval habitat

Walk through a troglodyte habitat retracing the footsteps of the original inhabitants of the period.

The armory

A room where you will be introduced to the projectile weaponry used by the inhabitants: bows, crossbows, stones, river pebbles and slings.

Well winch

This type of winch was used to lift and lower water or minerals. The loads were hoisted by means of a rotating shaft driven by hand cranks.

Medieval Kitchen

This reconstruction of a medieval kitchen gives the visitor a real feel of how the people lived at the time and the layout of la Roque Saint-Christophe.

Neanderthal Man

With the discovery of the first human fossils in the 19th century, the idea of an antediluvian man challenged traditional religious views of the time.