Pierre et Lumière

Useful Information

Location:	Northwest of Saumur, at the suburb St Hilaire St Florent
Open:	07-FEB to 15-NOV daily 10-19, last entry 18:15. [2010]
Fee:	Adults EUR 7.30, Children (6-18) EUR 5.50, Children (0-5) free, Students EUR 6. Groups (25+): Adults EUR 6, Children (6-18) EUR 5. Combi Ticket Pierre et Lumière + Musée du Champignon: Adults EUR 12, Children (6-18) EUR 9, Students EUR 10. Groups (25+): Adults EUR 10, Children (6-18) EUR 8. [2010]
Classification:	Cave House
Light:	Incandescent Coloured Light Son et Lumière
Dimension:
Guided tours:	self guided ( ) and guided ( ), D=1h
Photography:
Accessibility:
Bibliography:
Address:	Pierre et Lumière, Route de Gennes, 49400 Saint Hilaire Saint Florent, Tel: +33-241-507004, Fax: +33-241-506194.
As far as we know this information was accurate when it was published (see years in brackets), but may have changed since then. Please check rates and details directly with the companies in question if you need more recent info.

History

Description

This is a pretty strange site, which shows sculptures, mostly models of churches and chapels, cut into the soft limestone of the Loire. This is further enhanced by light shows with music (son et lumiere), where the models are lighted from various angles and with coloured light. It is listed as a subterranea, because the models are on exhibit in one of the numerous cellars, originally created to quarry the rocks for the castles and chateaus of the Loire valley.

This site was an idea of Yann Bouchard and the models were sculpted by Philippe Cormand from Brittanny. The most important monuments of the Loire valley, mostly churches and chapels, but also complete villages and bas reliefs of cities like Saumur are shown. The models are cut into the same soft limestone of which the original buildings were made.

This site is affiliated with the Musée du Champignon and there is a reduced combi ticket.