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The Carrières des Lumières (Quarries of Light) is a magical space in a vast cave-like quarry at the base of the hilltop village of Les Baux de Provence. There in the cool darkness, 100 video projectors splash 2,000 still and moving images over an area of more than 75,000 square feet, onto the 45-foot-high walls and onto the stone floor, while 74 speakers provide the perfectly choreographed soundtrack. The sound-and-light show changes once a year and is one of the most-popular, most-visited sites in Provence.
The 2026 show opened this week and it looks sure to be a huge hit, just like the Monet and Rousseau show was last year. As always, there are two separate ‘’immersive experiences’’ and they run on a continuous loop. This year the main show (35 minutes) is "Picasso, Art in Motion" and the shorter one (15 minutes) is "Frida
Kahlo: At the Very Heart.’’
Pablo Picasso was, of course, one of the most influential
artists of the 20th century. In addition to his painting and
drawings, the show displays the other techniques that the Spanish artist explored
such as engraving, sculpture, collage, assemblages, folding and ceramics. It’s
a journey through his entire palette, from the warm hues of his native Spain to
the whirlwind of colors in his paintings of Parisian cabarets and balls to
his legendary melancholic blues to the delicate pinks that precede the striking
grays of his monumental Guernica.
From Celestina to Les Demoiselles
d'Avignon and The Supplicant, you’ll discover the faces of
the women who filled his life and inspired some of the major turning points in
his work.
The Frida Kahlo projection, meanwhile, explores the intimacy
and creative force of the legendary Mexican artist (1907-1954) ‘’through an
explosion of colors, symbols and emotions.’’ The walls are transformed to
reflect the rhythm of Frida's life: from her early works marked by physical
suffering and the search for self to her most assertive paintings ‘’where the
power of her identity and commitment bursts forth.’’
In just a few short minutes you’ll see the evolution of an
artist who ‘’transformed pain into art, fragility into strength, and the
intimate into the universal.’’
As in years past, there’s an accompanying soundtrack and the playlists are available via Spotify on the Carrières website. I’ve always felt that the soundtrack plays a huge part in the impact of the show…and people around here still talk about the brilliant pairing of Salvador Dali and Pink Floyd in 2020.
The program will be on view until January, 2027.
In addition to Picasso/Kahlo, there will be special repeat showing of The Little Prince in the Carrières on certain dates in April and May, to mark the 80th anniversary of the publication of Antoine de Saint Exupéry's masterpiece. Set to music, the words of the story come to life as Saint Exupéry's watercolors unfold around you, bringing all the characters to life. Details are on the Carrières website.
The Carrières des Lumières sits in the Val d’Enfer, a stone's throw Les Baux itself; you can easily walk between them but on foot you have a bit of a climb up to the village itself. These quarries produced the white limestone used for the construction of the village of Les Baux, the Château des Baux and many buildings in surrounding villages including St. Remy. Aluminum ore bauxite was discovered here in 1821 by geologist Pierre Berthier, who named it after the village. In 1935, the use of more-modern materials led to the quarries' demise.
Dramatic and otherworldly looking, the area has inspired
artists of all sorts; it provided the setting for Dante’s Divine Comedy and
Gounod created his opera Mireille here. Later, Cocteau came
here to film The Testament of Orpheus. A 16-minute film
tracing Cocteau’s life can be seen in the Salle Cocteau, adjacent to the main
space.
The Carrières du Val d’Enfer have been awarded Natural
Monument status in France.
The first transformation of the abandoned quarries began in
1976 with the development of a project using the huge rocky walls for sound and
light performances.
Formerly known as the Cathedrale des Images, the venue
closed in 2011 and re-opened (after a €2 million re-do) as
the Carrières des Lumières the following year. Since then, it’s been
managed by Culturespaces.
Founded by Bruno Monnier in 1990, Culturespaces is the leading private
operator/manager of monuments, museums and art centers in France. The
Culturespaces Foundation, founded in 2009, fosters access to art and culture
for children affected by illness, disability or poverty. One of France’s
benchmark foundations, it’s known for initiatives that blend culture, education
and solidarity.
Based on the wide popularity of the Carrières des Lumières,
Culturespaces went on to launch a number of similar “digital art centers”
including the Atelier des Lumières, Paris (2018), the Bunker des Lumières,
Jeju (2018), the Bassins des Lumières and Bordeaux (2020). More recent openings
include the Hall des Lumières (New York), the Fabrique des Lumières (Amsterdam)
and the Théâtre des Lumières (Seoul). To see all the locations and their
programing, click here.
Heads up to first-time visitors: it’s cool inside the quarry
so you might want a sweater or light jacket. The stone floors are uneven so you might want a cane or walking stick as well. There are stone
benches around the perimeter of the interior and you can stay as long as you
like. As you exit, there’s a small but interesting shop selling books and other
items pertaining to the history of Provence, Les Baux, the Carrières and the
Val d’Infer.
The Cafe des Carrières is
open every day except December 25, from 10 am daily, serving drinks, sandwiches
and sweets. It closes at 5 pm, 6 pm or 6:30 pm depending on the season.
As in years past, you can just show up at the Carrières
and buy a ticket. But to avoid long lines in season, they suggest you book
online here.
You can also buy tickets in advance at the Carrières ticket office or
at all FNAC stores.
Pricing for 2026 is: €16.50 (adults), €15.50 seniors (65 and up), €14 students and free for journalists, jobseekers, the disabled and kids under 7. On the website you’ll also see family rates and combined-visit prices (for the Carrières, the Chateau des Baux and the Musée Yves Brayer), along with background, directions and much more.
The Carrières is open seven days a week and last entry is
one hour before closing. Hours are as follows:
March:
9:30 am - 6 pm
April, May, June, Sept & Oct: 9:30 am - 7 pm
July & Aug: 9 am - 7:30 pm
Nov,
Dec, Jan: 10 am - 6 pm
Carrières des Lumières
Note: In addition to Picasso/Kahlo, there will be special showing of The Little Prince in the Carrières on certain dates in April and May, to mark the 80th anniversary of the publication of Antoine de Saint Exupéry's masterpiece. Set to music, the words of the story come to life as Saint Exupéry's watercolors unfold around you, bringing the characters to life. Details are on the Carrières website.
And another note: starting July 4, 2026, the Carrières will present *Océan*, an immersion in the underwater world, a new immersive experience dedicated to the beauty and richness of the oceans. The show will alternate with the Picasso/Kahlo show...check the schedule online for details.
Photos: (1) Poster for the new show. (2-6) Three Picasso and two Kahlo scenes from the show. Photos courtesy of Culturespaces. (7) The old bauxite quarry in daylight; the geologist who first discovered aluminum ore here in 1821 named it after the village. (8) One section of the vast space is lit beautifully when the Carrieres hosts private parties and other events. I took this photo at the launch party for the new show a few years ago. (9) One of my favorite photos of the village of Les Baux, taken by Philippe Clairo (@craignos). (10) To celebrate the book's 80th anniversary, there will be a special repeat performance of The Little Prince, on certain dates in April and May. See the website for dates and details.
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