Carrières de Lumières

We did the real touristy thing today and visited Les Baux de Provence, one of the most popular places to visit in the whole of Provence. We went once, years ago and since then have been put off by the apparently crowds of people who go. In fact once we can remember getting as far as the car park and turning round and heading off.
 
But today we decided to brave it. Les Baux is a fortified village perched atop the Alpilles ridge, with the ruins of an 11th century castle above, merging into the rock. Quite spectacular from a distance and I remembered it as a quaint little village with winding streets and alleyways. It is no longer so . . . it has become a shopping mall!!
 
We paid 6€ to park so we had the privilege of walking up the hill into the village to do some shopping. Every other building is now a shop, selling all sorts of touristy stuff. At the top, one then has to pay out again in order to visit the castle – we didn’t. It took a long time to find somewhere to get a cup of coffee and then we could only sit in certain seats as the rest were reserved for lunch (it was 10.30!). It didn’t help that it was very cold – the first time we have had fleeces on.
 
So we headed out quickly (we had not bought anything!) and went down to the old quarries that have been turned into the Carrières de Luminières and this was just brilliant. We have often thought to go here and never made it and so many people have told us about it. They were right – it’s amazing. It is an extraordinary multimedia show where huge pictures (the theme at the moment is Chagall – Midsummer Nights’ Dreams’) are projected onto the walls, pillars, floors, in a continuous sequence. You really don’t know where to look next and are quite mesmerised. Photography is difficult, and they did not want flash used, but I think this one gives some idea of it for anyone who has not been.
   
So a disappointing start and a fabulous end to the morning. And it is still cold. Hope we see some sun again tomorrow for our last day.