I’m very honored to be chosen a winner in the World’s Most Inspirational Places travel writing contest, sponsored by Sharing Travel Experiences, the go-to resource for travel information on the web.
Mere words cannot do justice to this incredible place, Cathedrale d’Images in Les Baux de Provence, France, but I tried my best to describe the beauty of this extraordinary underground art museum. You can link to my article here.
Many thanks to the contest judges, to STE’s parent company Hayes Media Group, and their sponsors, Indie Travel Podcast, and Odyssey Publications.
This entry was posted in France on December 4, 2009 by enchantedtraveler.
This weekend, art, poetry and illumination combine with the latest technology as the city of Lyon, France kicks off their extraordinary Festival of Lights – la Fete des Lumieres.
While Paris has the reputation of being the “City of Light”, most people don’t realize it’s really Lyon, France’s second largest city, that is the renowned center of the urban outdoor lighting and design industry. The 4-day festival transforms public squares, buildings, monuments, bridges, cathedrals and more into unbelievable illuminated works of art, using the latest technology in lighting and design.
The current celebration had its humble beginnings in December 1852, when townsfolk gathered in lighted procession to commemorate a new statue of the Blessed Mother, which was erected on Fourviere hill, near the Basilica. Throughout the years citizens of Lyon marked the Feast of the Immaculate Conception by placing lighted candles in their front windows every December 8, a tradition which continues today.
In addition, dozens of other works will be featured around the city by students of France’s art, architecture and design schools. Also on the agenda is an international symposium of 300 lighting experts, visual artists and architects who will meet to exchange ideas, and learn about the latest technology in outdoor lighting of urban spaces.
But for those of us not in the lighting industry….we get to enjoy, and marvel at the brilliant juxtaposition of history, architecture, faith, and art with modern illumination technology.
Lyon is situated in the Rhone Alps region of south central France, about 280 miles southeast of Paris, 90 miles southwest of Geneva. The Train Train à Grande Vitesse (TGV) network will whisk you from the Gare du Lyon in Paris to Lyon in two hours.
Check out the Fete des Lumieres 2009 Flickr group created to share the amazing photos and videos.
This entry was posted in France and tagged France, Geneva, la Fete des Lumieres, lighting, Lyon, Paris, Rhone Alps, TGV on December 2, 2009 by enchantedtraveler.