At the beginning of the 20th century the parish of Saint Bartolomé rented to the most needed families of Petrer the terrains that surrounded the castle, included the wall, so that they could excavate his houses. Nevertheless, it was not the only site of the location where could find this type of construction.

In total existed some 220 houses-cave delivered by all the municipal term, although the majority found in the promenade of Puça (caves of the river); in the slopes of the castle (caves of the castle and caves of the Welcome); and in rural parties like Aiguarrius, Pepiosa, the Forcat and the Llobera. To finals of the 70 assist to the abandonment of these houses-cave, and to the purchase of many of them by the city council.