Claude Monet at the Carrières des Lumières in Provence

The Carrières des Lumières (Quarry of Light) is one of the most remarkable venues in France—in fact, it was recently named THE most remarkable venue in France. It’s a must-see for any visitor to Provence.

Described as “a magical sound and light show inside a mountain,” it features a new artist every year. This year’s artist at the Carrières des Lumières is Claude Monet, perhaps the greatest of the Impressionists.

Claude Monet Featured Artist

Monet is known for paintings like Woman with a Parasol, Haystacks, and the Waterlilies series based on his garden in Giverny. One of his early works, Impression Sunrise, inspired the name Impressionists given to Monet and his fellow artists.

Impression Sunrise by Claude Monet © Wikipedia / public domain

The program traces Monet’s career from his early days as a fairly traditional painter to his increasingly audacious use of technique, colour, and light. It also highlights his surprising friendship with French Prime Minister Georges Clemenceau and their trip to Japan together.

Henri Rousseau’s Colourful Art

Along with the Monet program, there is a shorter one featuring Henri Rousseau. A post-Impressionist known for his Naïve or Primitive style, Rousseau was mocked during his lifetime but has come to be seen as a master. His paintings feature jungles and wild animals, even though he never left France! Rousseau’s works influenced several later artists, including Picasso and the Surrealists.

© Carrières des Lumières / Vincent Pinson

Practical Information

Carrières des Lumières
Route de Maillane
13520, Les Baux-de-Provence

Carrières des Lumières is the largest fixed multimedia installation in France. The 14-metre-high walls are the backdrop for over 100 video projectors used to broadcast images. More information, including hours and ticketing, is available on the Carrières des Lumières website.

The Monet (45 minutes) and Rousseau (10 minutes) programs run continuously throughout the day.

Buying your tickets online in advance is highly recommended.

It is open every day, including public holidays. However, the opening hours change slightly depending on the season. The last admission is one (1) hour before the Carrières closes.

There is a small gift shop at the entrance to the Carrières for souvenirs and books.

A casual restaurant, Café des Carrières, is open daily for light meals.

Parking is limited and challenging during the busiest periods. The best time to visit Carrières des Lumières is often early morning or late afternoon after 17h. Otherwise, parking can be a bit of a nightmare.

This show is suitable for anyone with mobility issues as there are few stairs and ramps where necessary.

The interior of the show space is fresh, which is fabulous on a hot summer day. However, it can feel cold even then, so it is best to bring a sweater or cover-up.

Photo Credits:

First and third photos: © Carrières des Lumières / Vincent Pinson
Impression Sunrise: Wikipedia / public domain

Things to Do Near Les Baux de Provence

Castles: Built on a huge rock and surrounded by a fortified town, Les Baux de Provence is the biggest and best-known of the Alpilles chateaux, with magnificent views over the surrounding landscape. There is a fee to enter the village where you find boutiques and restaurants. You need a ticket to visit Château des Baux-de-Provence, which can be purchased with Carrières des Lumières.

Guide to the Châteaux of the Alpilles

Olive Oil: If you’d like to taste some of the best olive oil in Provence, look no further than the Moulin Castelas, situated just below the famous fortress of Les Baux-de-Provence.

Catherine and Jean-Benoît Hugues own Castelas. This French couple lived in Arizona before returning to their native country, where they “fell in love with some old olive trees.” They bought the estate in 1997 and constructed a new olive mill in 2002 to make the best olive oil possible.

Grab a Bite to Eat: One of the pleasures of any trip to Provence is the food; the region is full of excellent restaurants. My wife and I live part of the year in St-Rémy-de-Provence, and here are some of our favourite restaurant picks in the Alpilles (or close by).

Go for a Hike: Established in 2007, the Parc Naturel Régional des Alpilles is a relatively new park. However, the mountain range itself results from millennia of continuous geological evolution. The wonderful thing about this 30-kilometre stretch of mountains is that you might never tire of the opportunities to explore on foot. The Grande Randonnée (GR) #6 traces the summit from Tarascon to Aureille. Look for red and white flashes to follow sections of this multi-stage trail.

Other walking trails marked by yellow paint flashes cross the agricultural land surrounding the peaks. These routes are shorter but no less scenic than the high-level trails. Head towards the hills from the centre of most Alpilles villages and look for the trail markers.

Keith Van Sickle

Keith and Val Van Sickle made their first trip to Provence decades ago, and it was love at first sight. After that, they came back every year until 2008, when they began a part-time life there, splitting their time between Provence and California.

Over the years, they’ve travelled all over Provence, seeing sights both well-known and obscure. Their French friends have introduced them to favourite restaurants and wineries and picnic spots and taught them funny local expressions (not all for polite company).

Keith now shares this local knowledge in his new book, An Insider’s Guide to Provence. Packed with the Van Sickles’ favourite things to see and do, it’s a must-have for anyone travelling to this glorious corner of France.

Keith previously published two books about the couple's experiences in Provence. One Sip at a Time: Learning to Live in Provence, and Are We French Yet?, both are available from Amazon.

You can see all of Keith’s blog posts at Life in Provence.