ROAD TRIP DAY FIFTEEN: Before we leave Provence tomorrow and head on to the next leg of our road trip (Carcassonne next!), I had my heart set on a project that was near and dear to my heart. I saved a personal fav for last.
Some of you might recognize the name “Carrières de Lumières.” While popularized by the installation in Paris, this program has a much longer history. And a location I had long, long been wanting to visit.
In today’s Instagram story, we visit Les Baux-de-Provence. Tucked below this quaint village (more on that tomorrow) is a vast limestone quarry that is the backdrop of a 3D light show that has, in various forms, been operating since 1975.
“Culturespaces” took over the project in 2012 and set up its jaw-dropping audiovisual shows projected on 10,000 m² (107,639 sq. ft.) set in the heart of the mountain.
Per Wiki: “The Picasso entrance , formerly Jean Cocteau, is a monumental space dominated by a vast stage ten meters wide and 20 meters high leaning against the mountain.
The Dante room, formerly Albert Plécy, is the main space in which the exhibitions are screened. To the right of the entrance, a large gallery plunges 60 meters under the mountain to end in a gigantic hall, cut out by immense columns left by the quarrymen to carry the “roof”. These natural pillars are between 5 and 10 meters at the base and are 7 to 9 meters high. Like the walls and ceiling, they serve as natural screens for projection.
It is in these places that blocks of 2 m 3 were extracted until 1880, first with an iron bar then with a crocodile saw.
The Cocteau room of 300 m2, partially covered and with large openings over its entire length, is used for the reception activity of the Quarries.
The Van Gogh room hosts the Café des Carrières. The 90 m2 projection room shows extracts from the film Le Testament d’Orphée by Jean Cocteau as well as interviews with the latter and Jean Marais, the film’s main actor.”
I hope you enjoy my story.
Bisous and big hugs from France,
Shannon
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