The Popes Palace All Lit Up

The days have cooled here in Provence, the summer festival season is winding down and I'm braced for the inevitable--yet always jarring!--reduction in gala garden-party invites. But there are still plenty of opportunities for summer-style diversions, such as this sound-and-light show at the 14th-century Palais des Papes in Avignon. Truth is, many of these things are more fun when it's not 32 degrees celcius at midnight. So...

Les Luminessences d’Avignon is a grand-scale sound and light show that runs until September 28. For 35 minutes, the main courtyard of the Popes Palace is bathed in colorful light, with monumental 3D images in sequence and a sound track to match. The show was created by Bruno Seillier, the artistic director behind the Nuit des Invalides show in Paris this year and last...and the 200 Years of Glory show at Versailles. The spoken part is in French (famous French actors describing the history of the 'old stones,' the lives of the Popes and more) but I'm told it's very beautiful and enjoyable either way.

Luminessences runs twice every evening (9:15 and 10:15 pm) through August 31st...once (9:15) on weekdays in September...and twice on Friday and Saturday nights in September. Doors open at 8:30 (first show) and 10 pm (second). Entry is €10 per person, reduced rate is 8€ and kids under 8 are free. You can order tickets online or buy them everyday (9 am to 10:15 pm) at the Palais des Papes or Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 5:45 pm (and Sundays from 10 am to 4:45 pm) at the Avignon Tourist Office. Meanwhile the site for Luminessences is here with lots more info about the show. And for any Avignon questions, you can always call the Tourist Office: 04 32 74 32 74.