Sharing Travel Experiences

C’est Magnifique: The Cathedrale d’Images

by Mary Ann Grisham

We interrupt this week’s normal agenda with the winning entries in our world’s most inspirational place contest.  Today’s entry is by an old friend of ours Mary Ann Grisham, who will win a Odyssey travel guide of her choice courtesy of our sponsors.  Congrats Mary Ann!

Cathedrale d’Images is an unforgettable sensory experience, the likes of which you cannot imagine. Leave it to the French to create a “museum” where the less imaginative of us would only see an abandoned limestone quarry. The “museum” was an active quarry until the mid-1900s.

Limestone is bright white, and because of the harvesting techniques used, the remaining flat walls of the quarry have become the perfect natural backdrop for the most unique artistic display I have ever seen. The empty cavern has been turned into a multi-media feast for your senses. Using a series of 50 projectors, thousands of art images are projected on the 20 foot high walls, as well as the ceiling, and floors. A soundtrack is written especially for the each exhibit, and the slide show is animated and professionally synchronized and choreographed to the music.

If you visit in the summer, you leave the blazing sun and bright white light of the Provencal countryside, and enter into a dark, cool, cave. You are enveloped by the darkness, and the cave’s sharp contrast to your senses can be unnerving at first, as your eyes try to adjust to the light. You stumble around a bit, trying to get your bearings, hoping here is a handrail. But then, you hear the strains of the beautiful music, and off in the distance, the huge, colorful images burst into view.

As you are drawn down into the heart of the quarry, you start to feel as if you are becoming part of the paintings: swirling, changing, floating away, lifted by the sound, color and light.

Stunning….powerful….masterful….magnificent……and something you must see and experience for yourself. I get goose-bumpy just thinking about it. This has to be in one of those “Hundred Places to See Before You Die” books. If not, I’ll have to start my own list! C’est magnifique.

The works of a different artist are featured each year. Picasso’s works are on display in 2009; 2008 showcased the masterpieces of Van Gogh.

Oh yes, you must go!!! For details visit Cathedrale d’Images official website.

Special thanks again to our contest sponsors, Indie Travel Podcast and Odyssey Publications:

Photo by Mary Ann, logos courtesy of their respective brands.

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