Visiting the Carrières de Lumières in Provence

On our Provence Roman Heritage tour, one of the most talked-about visits is an old bauxite quarry at the hilltop village of Les Baux. Why? Let us explain...

This rocky landscape inspired Danté to write his Inferno, Gounod created his opera, Mireille and Jean Cocteau filmed Testament d’Orphée, this disused limestone quarry has been converted, in spectacular and typically French fashion, into a breath-taking sound and light experience that showcases works of art in a whole new light.

The Carriere des Lumieres, Les Baux-de-Provence

Known as the Carrières de Lumières, (the 'quarry of lights') the venue plays host to a stunning audio visual display which changes its theme each year, picking a different artist or artistic movement and their works, set to music.

The venue opened in 2012 with a digital show of works by Gaugin and Van Gogh, Previous displays have involved Michelangelo, Léonard de Vinci, Raphaël, Vermeer, Bosch, Australian Aboriginal art and Cezanne...

In 2025, visitors will see Monet's famous impressionist paintings up close and personal, from his magnificent Giverny garden, to the Thames and Venice. There is also a show featuring illustrations of the classic French story, Le Petit Prince by author Saint-Exupéry, so our cyclists will accompany The Little Prince on his wild odyssey through the display of the author's charming watercolours. 

Back in 2020 we saw the spectacular exhibition of Salvador Dali's surreal landscapes adorning the massive blocks of hewn stone in the underground quarry.

The idea of Dali's melting watches from "Persistence of Memory" sliding down giant slabs of limestone was intriguing to say the least! In addition to the Dali exhibit, a display celebrated the work of the architect Antoni Gaudi, most famous for the Sagrada Familia cathedral in Barcelona, Spain. Gaudi helped change the face of modern architecture, and the exhibition brought his wild imagination vividly to life.

gaudi bike tour

Back in 2017 we saw the weird and wonderful works of Hieronymus Bosch and Peter Bruegel the Elder which were the subject of the exhibition. Works like Bosch’s The Garden of Earthly Delights and Bruegel’s Peasant Wedding take on a whole new perspective when projected in detail 12 metres high, and accompanied by music like Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana for the Bosch’s nightmare visions or Beethoven’s Pastoral for Bruegel’s portrayal of 15th Century peasant life.  A totally immersive experience!

The scale of each spectacle offered be Carrière des Lumières needs to be seen first hand to be appreciated, it is well worth the visit, especially for those who are less interested in seeing art in a more traditional gallery setting, as it puts the artists' works in a whole new light. 

Visit the Carrière des Lumières on a French cycling holiday

Our the last day of our Provence cycling tour we head east towards the Alpilles massif. Although there are no high peaks, the jagged ridge gives the impression of being higher than it is.

Riding out of Arles along tiny back roads - where meeting a car is an event in itself - we tackle a short, stiff climb to the hilltop village of Les Baux. The bottom-gear effort is richly rewarded by the sublime views and the town itself, which is dramatically perched on a rocky outcrop.

From Les Baux, we go over the massif known as the Val d’Enfer (Valley of Hell, although it honestly isn’t that tough a ride!), stopping at the stunning Carrière de Lumière to change the pace and take our time over the incredible experience on offer. 

cycling in Provence with French Cycling Holidays over the Pont du Gard