Carrieres de Lumieres, France: The Quarry of Light
When the word ‘quarry’ comes to mind; the last thing you associate it to is 900 year old renaissance artwork. Carrières de Lumières is a 7,000m2 quarry in Southern France which exhibits artwork of some of the most famous artists in history. Projecting them onto every wall and inch of floor and ceiling you can see. All year-round famous artworks are projected on the towering blocks of limestone to create a beautifully dizzying experience, and definitely one of a kind.
What is Carrieres de Lumieres?
Carrieres de Lumieres is where some of the world’s most famous historic artists, and their priceless paintings meet modern classical composers to create one of the most mind-blowing art exhibitions to grace this planet.
The venue is an old quarry in Les Baux de Provence in Southern France. The centuries old artwork is projected onto every inch of the 4,000m2 interior walls, floor, pillars and ceiling carved from limestone, while classical musical hums from the many speakers strategically placed around the quarry. There are few seats, but plenty of floor pace to sit. You can walk around the pillars, and through each chamber immersing yourself in the artwork dancing around you like an acid trip.
The show is around an hour long but continues playing on repeat, so walking in after it started doesn’t matter if you’re not strapped for time. Exhibitions run every day of the year, with usually only 2 different exhibitions a year.
About the Southern French Quarry
Carrieres de Lumieres opened in the 1800’s as a limestone quarry and was formerly named ‘Les Grands Fonds’. It was originally opened to produce limestone up until it’s closure in 1935. The quarry was used intermittently for films or light shows during the last few decades due to its crisp backdrop and vast open spaces. Fast forward to 2012 and we have the ‘quarry of light’ we know today, aka Carrieres de Lumieres.
The quarry is wheelchair accessible and family friendly. People of all ages will be able to enjoy the spectacular light show. Carrieres de Lumieres is probably the best way to introduce any non-art lover to some of the world’s most unforgettable creative geniuses.
Be sure to take a light jacket as the temperature can dive to 14 degrees Celsius inside the chamber, even during the mid-summer Mediterranean climate outside.
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Carrieres de Lumieres Tickets
Tickets can be purchased online or onsite but get in early. Carrieres de Lumieres is popular with large tour groups. Either single or combined tickets are available, which include access to the Brayer Museum.
Single Ticket: €13
Seniors (Over 65): €12
Students/7-25 years old/Unemployed: €11
Family (2 adults,2 children): €37
Free: children under 7 years old, journalists and disabled visitors.
Check their website for the combined ticket prices.
Getting to Carrieres de Lumieres
Tickets can be purchased online or onsite but get in early. Carrieres de Lumieres is popular with large tour groups. Carrieres de Lumieres is around a 1 hours drive from Marseille – 83.9km. 30 km south of Avignon and 15 km north-east of Arles.
It sits within walking distance from the small historic commune of Les-Baux-Provence in the alpine mountains. It’s easiest to get here by private vehicle, but that doesn’t mean you can’t reach it by public transport.
Rental car: Take the A7 motorway from Avignon. The A9 from Nimes. Or the A54 from Baux-de-Provence. Car parks directly outside the quarry fill up quickly so make sure you get there early. Otherwise there is a larger car park on the other side of the commune, which is an 11-minute walk from the quarry.
Train: Aix-en-Provence and Avignon TGV stations
Click here for Google Map directions from Marseille
What to Expect at Carrieres de Lumieres
Experience one of the most breathtaking art exhibitions of some of the oldest and most famous works of art in the world. Expect plenty of lights, powerful music to match the mood of each section of the show
The indoor section of the quarry where the show is held has been carved out to create large flat walls, stairs, platforms and gigantic pillars. With such a vast open space you can find yourself a seat almost anywhere to watch the show dance around you.
Most, if not all, of the art work produced by the chosen artist is created into a motion show which is then projected onto every inch of the quarry. There are videos, moving pictures and patterns to easily keep your entertained for hours. Each video seamlessly transitions into the next which makes it super easy to hang around for longer than intended.
Don’t wear your best clothes, the site is still just limestone and therefore extremely dusty.
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My Trip to Carrieres de Lumieres in 2017
I came to Les Baux de Provence in 2017 during a week spent touring around southern France. I was told about Carrieres de Lumieres but I wasn’t sure what to expect, and to be honest, the brochure was quite confusing. Famous artwork projected onto a rock wall? Didn’t sound too exciting at the time, and the pictures I was shown were nothing but confusing. But I rolled with it.
I wasn’t prepared to walk into a large indoor limestone chamber feeling like I was a subject of a religious renaissance painting; walking into detailed peasant scenes from Brueghel. Arcimboldo’s imaginative portraits staring back at me, and observing characters from Bosch’s’ religious scenes dance around the room like I had fallen into a vivid dream.
I happily strolled around the quarry for the next hour taking in the impressive, over-sized, 1,000-year-old artwork. Strolling through each chamber and discovering a new piece of art, new show or large, vivid portraits.
The inside of the quarry is dark enough that you don’t realise you’re collecting limestone dirt and dust on your shoes, clothes and in your hair. So wear clothes and shoes that you don’t mind getting a bit dusty.
Carrieres de Lumieres: 2020
For the duration of 2020 Carrieres de Lumieres is showing works from Dali and Gaudi, with musical collaboration of Luca Longobardi.
