Carrières des Lumières – magical light show in Les Baux-de-Provence

Writer: Helena Bergström

Updated: September 2026 | Carrières des Lumières in Les Baux-de-Provence is an art experience beyond the ordinary. In huge old limestone quarries, works of art are projected onto walls, columns and floors, while the rooms are filled with music. When we visited the place, we were able to step right into works by Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci and Raphael. We were completely captivated.

Carrières des Lumières in Provence

Carrières des Lumières is located just outside the small village of Les Baux-de-Provence, amidst the dramatic landscape of the Alpilles.

This is no ordinary art gallery. The exhibitions are shown in monumental old limestone quarries where images are projected onto walls, columns and floors. Today, over a hundred video projectors are used and the projections cover more than 7,000 square meters. The walls are 14 meters high in places.

The visitor moves freely through the large halls while the art changes all around them. The images enlarge, move and flow from one wall to the next, all accompanied by music. The program changes from year to year and different artists and themes take center stage.

On small roads towards Les Baux-de-Provence

We were tipped off about Carrières des Lumières by Monica, who lived in Provence and wrote the blog Life in a southern French town. It turned out to be a very good tip. Finding it wasn't quite as easy, however. The GPS led us around a lot of small roads that would have been great if we had a moped. We came by camper.

As we struggled along, trying to deal with encounters on the narrow roads, we began to wonder if we were even headed in the right direction.

But gradually the landscape changed. Limestone cliffs and strange formations began to appear around us and we approached Les Baux-de-Provence. The nature alone around us was worth the trip.

An old limestone quarry becomes an art gallery

The limestone around Les Baux-de-Provence has been quarried since ancient times and has been used for buildings and monuments in the area, including in Arles and in Les Baux-de-Provence itself.

The large Grands Fonds quarry was opened around 1800. During the 20th century, demand for building stone decreased as cheaper materials such as steel and concrete became more common, and in 1935 the quarry was closed.

But the huge empty rooms eventually took on a whole new life. In 1959, French artist and filmmaker Jean Cocteau shot parts of the film The Testament of Orpheus here. In the 1970s, the old quarries began to be used for sound and light shows, where the large limestone walls served as projection surfaces.

Since 2012, the art center has been called Carrières des Lumières and new immersive art exhibitions are presented every year.

Our light show with Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci

When we visited Carrières des Lumières in 2015, the main performance was shown Michelangelo, Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael – The Giants of the Renaissance. And what an experience!

The art was not displayed as paintings on the walls. Instead, we were in the middle of it. The floor and walls were constantly changing color and shape. One second we were standing in a mighty hall filled with enormous works of art, and the next we saw pillars growing out of the ground or Leonardo da Vinci's drawings turning like the pages of a book. Everything moved around us to the sounds of classical music.

A magical experience

We were inside the Carrières des Lumières for about two hours and never got bored. It’s hard to capture the experience in photographs because it’s the movement, the music and the scale that make it special. The projections aren’t just in front of you. They appear on the walls, the pillars and the floor, transforming the entire room.

Sometimes we almost didn't know which way to look. Today, the technology has of course developed further, but the idea itself is the same: every year, art takes over the old limestone quarries anew. See this if you get the chance!

Les Baux-de-Provence – more than the light show

Carrières des Lumières is located just below Les Baux-de-Provence, a historic village perched on a cliff above the Provençal landscape. The village dates back a long way and is dominated by the ruins of Château des Baux-de-Provence. In the Middle Ages, the site was a strong stronghold, with parts of both buildings and defences carved directly into the cliff.

Even those who come primarily for the Carrières des Lumières can therefore take the opportunity to discover the village itself and enjoy the view of the landscape. We concentrated mainly on the light show during our visit, but the area is easy to combine with more experiences in Les Baux-de-Provence and the Alpilles.

Is the Carrières des Lumières worth a visit?

For us, there is no doubt. We had been tipped off about a light show in an old limestone quarry and didn't really know what to expect. What we encountered was much more impressive than we had imagined.

The enormous halls, the art that moved across the limestone walls and the music made it an experience we still remember many years later. What’s more, Carrières des Lumières is located in a stunning landscape and right next to historic Les Baux-de-Provence. We wrote after our visit in 2015: ”See this if you get the chance!” We stand by that advice.

More to see and do in the neighbourhood

If you want to continue your trip in France, there is of course more to see and experience nearby.

• Things to do in Arles
• Things to do in Marseille
• Things to do in Sete