Have a glimpse of my experience at The Quarry Light show in Provence. This art show is a must-see if you are aiming a trip to Provence.
If you are looking for a unique experience to spice up your time in Provence, here in this article I am giving you a complete description of one exceptional visit: The “Carrières de Lumières”. I am also sharing with you my personal experience there and some tips that will be useful if you decide to come see for yourself!
I had been to Provence quite a few times already and I simply love this region. I travelled there several times as a kid and went back again two years ago. There are many places I still don’t know in this area but there is one in particular I always wanted to visit, the “Carrières de Lumières” (literally the Quarries of Lights).
The name of this place sounds mysterious. How can a place like a quarry be associated with the word light? Such a paradox you think? Well, to understand what the “Carrières de Lumières” really is, let’s go back 4000 years ago.
The “Carrières de Lumières” is located at the foot of the beautiful village of Les Baux-de-Provence. It’s in Provence and in the heart of the Alpilles, an area where the landscape is shared between vines, olive groves, pines and mountain. But it’s also a place of history as there are many villages and towns filled with Roman remains. In -2000 the area saw the formation of limestone blocks that were used to build the Roman sites (like Glanum for example) and later on the medieval village of Les Baux and its castle. Looking closer at the stones and the ground you can find some marine fossils in the rock…
The quarry officially opened at this time under the name of “Les Grands Fonds” and led to the construction of many buildings and cities. After the First World War and with the emergence of new materials such as steel and concrete, the demand for stone constructions declined and the quarry closed.
During the second half of the 20th century, the place was rediscovered by many artists who saw in it a real source of inspiration, a muse of stone that could be the setting for their creative works. Dante, Gounod and Cocteau were simply entranced by the beauty of the place. It’s Joseph Svoboda, the contemporary scenographer who had first the idea of transforming the site into a new project mixing sound and light.
In 2012, and after the village Les Baux-de-Provence entrusted the management of the site to Culturespaces, the quarries were renamed the “Carrières de Lumières” and the concept was finally created under the name AMIEX (Art & Music Immersive Experience). Since then, each year, the “Carrières de Lumières” hosts a fabulous lights immersive show produced by Culturespaces and directed by Gianfranco Iannuzzi, Renato Gatto and Massimiliano Siccardi.
Ok, now that we know the background, it’s important to understand what this immersive light and sound show really is. The concept itself is quite unique. Projected on open air walls, but also on the ground and pillars, the works (paintings, photos, sculptures, etc.) of the greatest names in art appear in all their splendor. It’s a total immersion with innovative infrastructures, high definition projectors and carefully chosen music. You can imagine it but until you are inside the quarry, you cannot catch the special atmosphere. It’s poetic, moving, rocking (that’s the word indeed!), impressive, and fresh (trust me it’s a great refreshing break kind of visit if you choose to discover Provence during its hottest season).
As for me, I took a few days off by the end of June to (re)discover Provence and, this time I was with my boyfriend. We stayed in a beautiful Mas (the typical family homes of Provence) in the heart of the Alpilles, right next to the village of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. We wanted to escape the routine and enjoy the slow and sweet life of Provence. On the road, passing the city of Orange and entering the Vaucluse department, the air changes, filled with flower scents. You can already hear the cicada song, synonymous with holiday. The visit of the “Carrières de Lumières” was of course on the to-do list and we went there on our second day. We woke up early and after a good breakfast on the terrace, we took the road to Les Baux-de-Provence (approximately 20 minutes from Saint-Rémy-de-Provence). Once there, we parked our car in one of the many parking lots around the site (the best spot is the one with shade!). We went there 2 hours prior to the time slot we reserved so we could walk up to the village of Les Baux and visit its medieval castle (the walk is about 15 minutes long).
After our visit, we arrived at the entrance of the quarries. We had already booked our tickets online and so we didn’t have to wait in line to enter. This year, the show was dedicated to two masters of Spanish art and architecture: Gaudi and Dali. As I didn’t want to spoil my experience, I didn’t watch the trailer of the shows on the website and so I had no clue of what the visit will be. First and right before pushing the heavy door separating the waiting line from the quarry, I could hear a song from Pink Floyd (I am a huge fan of the band, it’s actually MY favorite band) and… that was it… I knew the show would be great and it was.
When you enter the quarry, you feel the freshness of the place and you realize the size of the site! It’s so large and you feel so small! It’s really impressive and majestic. The session starts with a trailer retracing the history of the quarries and the previous seasons.
Then, the show dedicated to Gaudi starts. The legendary and recognizable first notes of the clarinet from Rhapsodie in Blue by Gershwin rise from the silence. At the same time an imaginary city is building up on the walls and floor of stone. From the dazzling colors of the Park Güell, to the vertiginous towers of the Sagrada Familia and passing by extravagant architectures from the Ramblas, you will retrace the works of the talented Catalan architect. The colorful mosaics hypnotize you, the stained-glass windows amaze you while the original and wavy frontages amuse you. It’s a mix of color, joy, imagination, originality and Spanish warmth. For a session, you feel transported to the beautiful Barcelona.
What an experience! I simply loved it. To tour this site means also rediscovering your inner child as you point out everything your eyes can catch. The good thing of wearing a mask is that nobody can see your mouth wide open like a kid in front of a cartoon! You can walk between the alleys or you can stay at the same place to observe the show from one angle. Visiting the “Carrières de Lumières” was the highlight of my trip to Provence and I can’t wait to go back there (maybe next year) to see the future exhibitions.
A good idea for a visit 100% safe in these troubled times of Covid-19. First, the site is really big and the alleys very large, there is nothing to touch, just enjoy the show with your eyes wide opened. As I write this and from my experience there in June, the number of visitors is limited per slot to make sure not too many people are inside at the same time. The staff at the entrance controls your bags and measures your temperature. Hydro alcoholic gel is available and recommended at the entrance and wearing a mask is mandatory.
This way, you can choose the time slot that suits you best and avoid the line to buy your ticket at the entrance. You can also see the number of visitors per slot and choose the less busy for your tour.
I mean, this is rather a golden rule than a tip. In a general way, the best time to visit a site or enjoy the top roller coaster of a theme park is while the families are eating their lunch.
As I told you, it’s a refreshing visit, the temperature inside the walls of the quarry loses quite a few degrees. So, if you are sensitive to the cold like I am, you will feel more comfortable with a jumper.
Try to avoid the peak season for visiting this site and more generally Provence. Indeed, the area is beautiful and full of great walks and hikes, quaint and perched small villages, castles and museums… But if you don’t like staying in line forever, visit overcrowded sites and villages, or shuffle in narrow streets filled with hundreds of tourists under the blazing sun, avoid coming to Provence during the school holiday periods (which is July and August). The best time to visit the “Carrières de Lumières” and the area in general is in May, June (the lavender fields start blossoming from June 15, until mid-August, approximately), September and even October.
For a quick and nice break before or after your visit, I recommend you a detour at “Le Comptoir des Carrières” (approximately 100 meters from the “Carrières de Lumières”). This is a concept store in a unique setting. The entrance with a glass roof directly built on the rocks is very original. Inside, the owners are very kind, they propose to you fresh/hot beverages, ice creams, fresh sandwich and salads. Everything is local. The store has a wine cellar with local and organic wines. You will also be enchanted to discover the crafts and decorations in the boutique. Outside in the park, many original sculptures of limestone will welcome you!
If you want more information or if you simply want to know how to include this great visit to your trip in Provence, check out our itinerary Highlights of Paris and exquisite road trip in Provence (8-day custom tour).
Finally, what I recommend you is simply to come, visit and experience yourself this amazing place.
