Carrieres des Lumieres, Provence-Alpes-Cote d'Azur, France

5LaNyonsaise 5:00 PM Aug 13, 2022

Unique experience.
On our first visit to Les Baux in the pre-internet age we failed to understand the nature of the ‘spectacle’ wondering how it made sense to have an art exhibition in a quarry (!) and didn’t bother to visit. We subsequently learnt about the attraction that we had missed out on. Years later we seized on the opportunity to visit the Carrières de Lumières while in the general area. It was so worth it. Now this type of sound and light show can be seen in churches and theatres in British cities but the setting of the disused quarries is something else. The height of the ceilings and the brightness of the limestone make this show unique. The numerous images projected simultaneously on multiple vertical and horizontal surfaces are mesmerising, the music aids the immersive experience. Initially I was going to book on line but wasn’t sure when we would arrive. The website shows how many tickets are available for each timed entry and I decided to just chance buying on arrival. Seeing the blocked roads and full car parks I worried that this was a mistake but the helpful parking attendant radioed to another attendant to identify spaces and directed us. We feared that we might have to wait for a later timed entry but we were able to buy tickets quickly from a friendly assistant and walk straight in. The website didn’t make it clear that the shows are on a loop and you can enter and exit part way through AND stay as long as you like. The spaces are vast and it didn’t feel crowded. You can wander freely but the floor can be uneven and the images projected on the floor often move, however it was easy to find a stone bench to sit on or a wall to lean against. There’s little in the way of explanation during the show or at the entrance except for a leaflet that you are unlikely to read once you step into the dark but if you make your way towards the cafeteria and toilets there are boards in English and French describing the images and listing the musical extracts. It would be worth watching the show before reading the boards then going back to pick up on elements that you missed. In high summer the caverns provided respite from the heatwave and weren’t chilly.

5onestreetwiseb 5:00 PM Mar 6, 2022

One of the Best Audio/Visual Shows in France
We were one of the firsts to see the new Venice audio/video show (runs to January 2023) Absolutely superb and worth the €13.50 (pensioners price). These programmes just get better & better; we saw the Van Gogh one a couple of years ago. Looks like there are some special dates in 2022 when they will show three different shows in one evening.