Breadcrumbs
Before houses and flats and even hotels, there were caves! Humans have lived in caves for thousands of years, and today, some still do.
Matmata – Tunisia
Berber people have been living in underground caves for centuries, with some of the best examples located in the village of Matmata. Berber homes generally consist of a large central living area with smaller caves dug off the main room, and you can try one out for yourself at Matmata’s Hotel Sidi Driss. Some of the cave homes in this area were used in the filming of Star Wars, with the Hotel Sidi Driss playing the home of Luke Skywalker.
Vardzia – Georgia
This stunning network of caves in Southern Georgia consists of more than 600 independent caves connected in a 13-story cliff-face complex. Carved out in the 12th Century as a refuge against invading Mongols, the caves have their own irrigation system and are only accessible via hidden tunnels.
Altiplano de Granada – Spain
Known as Spain’s cave country, this mountainous region of northern Andalusia has had a history of cave dwelling since medieval times. Entire cave districts were first built here by the Moors in the 8th Century and were expanded by local peasant farmers. Today, there are thousands of cave dwellers still living in the area.
Fairy Chimneys – Turkey
Considered by many to be the world’s most famous cave homes, the Fairy Chimneys of Turkey were carved out by the Hittites around 1200 BC. Many of the caves are decorated with ancient frescoes, and beneath them is a highly impressive network of tunnels. The Fairy Chimneys remain inhabited as family homes, though some have been turned into hotels to accommodate tourists.
Yaodong – China
Found predominantly on the Loess Plateau in the north of China, yaodongs are cave homes that have been dug out of the side of hills since 200 BC. While it is no longer legal to build yaodongs in China, they remain home to roughly 40 million people.