Carrières de Lumières at Baux-de-Provence: immersive art in an ancient quarry

From quarry to Cathedral of Images

The Val d’Enfer quarries have been worked since Roman times and throughout the Middle Ages. It was here that the soft white stone of local limestone, particularly suited to sculpture and construction, was extracted. Exploitation ceased in the early twentieth century, leaving behind vast halls with flat ceilings, supported by natural pillars, the architecture of underground quarries.

In 1977, journalist-photographer Albert Plécy conceived the idea of harnessing this mineral space for projection. He founded the Cathedral of Images, which for three decades would present audiovisual spectacles on the walls. The concept anticipated, with the technical means of its time, what would later become digital immersive art.

2012: takeover by Culturespaces

In 2012, the site was taken over by Culturespaces and renamed Carrières de Lumières. Projection technology moved to high-definition digital: more than 100 video projectors, spatialised sound, immersive exhibition renewed each year. The first exhibition, “Gauguin, Van Gogh, Painters of Colour“, marked the turning point.

Since then, the site has presented a new immersive exhibition each year, projected at 360° on the walls, Klimt, Vermeer, Chagall, Cézanne, Kandinsky, Monet, Dalí, Vincent van Gogh, Cocteau, Yves Klein, Egon Schiele… The 2026 programme offers “Picasso, art in motion” and “Frida Kahlo, from the heart”, open from 13 February 2026.

The experience: what you see, what you hear

The visitor enters mineral halls with very high ceilings, in dim light, on a stone floor. The works unfold simultaneously on walls, pillars and floor, this is the “immersive” character of the installation: no screen, no frame, the painting becomes the setting. The soundtrack, spatialised, accompanies the movement of images and changes according to which area one is in.

The interior temperature remains stable at around 15°C year-round, a detail worth knowing: bring a jacket, even in the height of summer. The route is free, with no time limit; allow approximately 1 hour for your visit, longer if you wish to see several projection cycles.

When to visit

Weekday mornings outside peak season are the quietest times; attendance picks up from 11am in July-August. Online booking is advisable year-round, essential during peak season. Combined tickets with Baux-de-Provence castle (located 5 minutes’ walk away) offer better value.

Planning a stay in the Alpilles

AEC Collection selects and represents fine houses and villas in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Maussane, Baux and surrounding the regional park. Tickets can be booked directly with the Carrières.