Most cathedrals in France took centuries to build. In the Baux de Provence, an exception hides in an old quarry. Albert Plécy's Cathedrale d'Images is, according to him, built in just a few seconds. In 1975, he founded this unique attraction and three decades later, this small comapny, classified in the French system as a TPE (Très Petite Entreprise) has managed to stay in the same family and even flourish. A unique site in France, the cathedral niches in the heart of the Alpilles, in the bowels of the Val d'enfer. Here, tourists wander to discover the landscape that, according to legend, inspired Dante's Divine Comedy.
Former photographer for Images du Monde, Albert Plécy shared his time between Paris and Cannes. During a road trip with his wife Anne, the couple discovered the immense calcium quarry, abandoned in 1935. Struck by the site's beauty, Plécy decided to use the site as a showcase for his photographic research. The center of his creation would be Man. The site was classified a historical monument given its proximity to the village's famous chateau which meant Plécy had to sign a rental contract with the municipality of Les Baux. The adventure had begun.
Over three hectares of gigantic calcium walls, he projected between 2,000 and 5,000 images. Some walls stretch as high as the inside of Notre Dame de Paris. Suddenly, magic cast a spell over the place. On all sides, images blazed before the eyes of surprised visitors to this unusual site. Each wall came alive with a thousand colors echoing the sounds of accompanying music. Images paraded everywhere—on the ground, on the walls, on the ceiling. Albert Plécy's wish had been granted. Man—5,000 visitors in total--was finally the heart of the creation.
