Brrr. Over here, we've got the mid-winter drearies. Must be time to plan that wonderful trip you've been dreaming of! And if by chance that dream includes the warm and sunny South of France, I have to tell you about a place you simply must go.
The ancient, perched village of Les-Baux-de-Provence is a beautiful destination on its own, one of the loveliest villages in France. But it also has the most unique and heart-stopping art show we've ever seen. It's an immersive digital art and sound experience called the Carrières des Lumières. (the "quarry of lights").
Below: the village of Les Baux, and the views from the top.
Les Baux is a town built from the limestone mined in its quarries. (The quarries were closed in 1935, and became a cultural space in 1975). As a result, they have some extraordinary caves, drilled into the side of a mountain. It's hard to describe the massive scope of these stone caves; let's just say you could fit a Costco or two inside, except with much taller ceilings. And inside these caves, on the walls, ceilings and floors, they have projected art, accompanied by music that fills the space. It's like being inside a giant painting, in the middle of an orchestra or a concert. A few of the paintings have even been animated a bit; a cherub takes flight, or a reveler unexpectedly raises his glass.
There are different artists featured each year. This past year we went to a show called "Vermeer to Van Gogh, the Dutch Masters". Imagine being surrounded by Vermeers that are 3 stories tall and you start to get the picture. They artworks are constantly shifting, changing, fading, like a moving gallery. You are surrounded by beautiful music. It's art like you haven't experienced it before. Bonus: in the hottest summer months, it's nice and cool inside!
IF YOU GO: For the show, you can find info on schedules and tickets here.
We didn't stay in Les Baux, we stayed nearby, but I can tell you where to stay if you want to really splash out, and you can dine at their Michelin 3 star resto as well: Baumanière. It's fabulous and it's on my dream hotel list.
Where to eat: It's a tourist town, and the small village is full of cute bistros, many of them perilously hanging off the side of the cliff, with great views of the valley below.
Baumanière, a dreamy hotel
In the COMMENTS: Since our last post was on books, we have lots of FAVORITE READS today, from our readers who checked in. Christine is re-reading My Antonio by Willa Cather, which I've never read so it's first on my list. She also likes The Covenant of Water by Abraham Verghese, and The Dictionary of Lost Words, a novel by Pip Williams. Christine introduced me to the children's book writer Robert McClosky. Susan has a novel set in France, Jacqueline in Paris by Ann Mah. Lisa has another one with a French Connection, which she calls a "page turner": Red Stream, a wine thriller by Paul Tracy. Jo Anne sent us a bunch of French jewels: Paris Café, The Select Crowd, by Noel Riley Fitch; Les Petites Filles de Monsieur Linh, by Phillippe Claudel; Le Chapeau de Mittterand, by Antoine Lorraine (English edition, "The President's Hat"); and of course that wonderful classic, Le Petit Prince, by Antoine St. Exupèry. Several of you have recommended the books of Louise Penny in the past, which I finally got around to picking up, and zipped through two of them--so good! Set in Quebec, but with a liberal sprinkling of French expressions. Many thanks for all the ideas. As Alix commented: "Books are my soul!".
