PUY DE LUMIÈRES

The rock of Saint-Michel d’Aiguilhe

The Rocher d’Aiguilhe is an 82-metre-high ancient underwater volcano near Le Puy-en-Velay. A unique natural site, which we wanted to highlight in spectacular fashion with a video-mapping projection from above.

It’s a real visual tale, bringing the ancient volcano back to life virtually, as it was climbed by a dragon fought by the figure of Saint Michael, before giving way to the story of the construction of the church overlooking the rock. A fantastic ballet of colours, which pays tribute to the builders and leaves room for the imagination, with paintings showing the rock under the waves or covered in flowers.

From a technical point of view, the projection is orchestrated from a cabin 280 metres away, providing an exceptional panoramic view of the 45-metre-high rock. Thanks to five ultra-powerful projectors, with 22,000 and 40,000 lumens, we were able to cover the entire surface of the rock with incomparable clarity and brightness, while a sound system installed on the ground played music composed for the event, offering the public total immersion

Notre Dame of Puy-en-Velay’s Cathedral

An emblematic building listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the cathedral, built in the 5th century, becomes the canvas for a visual narrative projected onto its façade. Thanks to video mapping, the monument undergoes a metamorphosis and the architectural details come to life, giving rise to paintings and organic forms that pay tribute to the site’s thousand-year-old history and its legends.

Legend has it that a deer mapped out the building and guided its builders. So we illustrated this mythological stag, before covering the monument with paintings representing the seasons as they pass through time. The Cathedral is then transformed into lace, symbolising the crafts that have contributed so much to the economic development of Le Puy-en-Velay. Animated tableaux scroll past, the monument is adorned with multicoloured stained glass and then futuristic shapes, forming a link between the past, present and future of art, for which the cathedral is the connector of time.

Puy-en-Velay’s Theatre

Listed as a Historic Monument, the Théâtre du Puy-en-Velay is the work of architect Antoine Martin. Inaugurated on 8 July 1893 by Raymond Poincaré, it is emblematic of Italian-style theatres.

Through this immersive show, we have depicted the history of entertainment: starting with the art of the circus and Mexican kaleidoscopes symbolising childhood games, followed by animated tableaux illustrating the praxinoscope (ancestor of cinema and invented in Le Puy-en-Velay). Then it’s on to the art of dance, with choreography shared by Ivanka Moisan, a dancer with the Lyon Opera. The visual narrative ends with the digital arts, such as video games and electronic music, to close the time loop of history witnessed by this historic monument

Puy-en-Velay’s City Hall

At the heart of the ‘Puy de Lumières’ event, the Hôtel de Ville becomes the setting for an artistic performance. The walls of the building are transformed into a living canvas, where the inhabitants are depicted in costumes illustrating different trades. To create this fresco, real residents were filmed in motion capture, then illustrated in video mapping. These characters greet the crowd, creating a sense of civic harmony. Residents are no longer spectators but protagonists of this immersive work.

Decked out in the colours of the French nation, the façade of the Hotel de Ville subtly embodies a civic message, celebrating unity within plurality. Beyond the artistic performance, it is a collective and introspective experience. It invites us to reflect on the nature of community and its unity, and on the beauty of diversity.

Plot’s Square

The Place du Plot is home to one of the most beautiful covered markets in France. For the Puy de Lumières event, it becomes the setting for a colourful scenography in the style of a cartoon. This video mapping work is particularly aimed at children, who will discover the façade of this emblematic site covered in illustrations depicting cereal crops, the surrounding forests and the local produce for which the region is famous.

Spectators can relive the bustling life of the Saturday morning market. At the heart of this showcase, the Puy green lentil, the pride of the region, takes its place alongside other culinary treasures such as artisous cheese. Through revisited tales and playful characters, this series of animated frescoes illustrates the richness and diversity of local products, for an immersive, fun and educational experience

Saint Alexis’ Chapel

Built in 1752 and listed as a Historic Monument, the Chapelle Saint Alexis brings to life animated frescoes illustrating a wide range of musical trends, in tribute to the strong link between the Haute-Loire region and the art of music.

In fact, the department shines in terms of the wealth and quality of the musical events it hosts, particularly in the summer with its many festivals. Classical music, folk, country, Celtic, jazz brass, pop rock… giving pride of place to these diverse styles, the chapel uses video mapping to create a rhythmic spectacle of light, images and sound. By illuminating this site steeped in history, we’re bringing together the timeless beauty of the Haute-Loire’s architectural heritage with the region’s rich cultural heritage. This show reminds local residents of the importance of preserving these treasures of the past and passing them on to future generations.

Crozatier Museum

Charles Crozatier, a sculptor from Le Puy-en-Velay who discovered new ways of casting bronze, was a benchmark in the art of creating monumental sculptures in the 18th century, including the one currently on the Place Vendôme in Paris.

The museum that bears his name pays tribute to him during the Puy de Lumières event, with a video mapping show in which he comes to life, taking spectators on an imaginary nocturnal tour that displays the collections on the façade of the building with a touch of the fantastic. Palaeontological animals come to life, fossils come to life, and Egyptian mummies start to dance. A supernatural and immersive epic that reminds us that the remains of the past were once full of life.

Brives-Charensac’s Library

The night-time light trail continues along the banks of the Loire, where visitors can enjoy a unique view of the Brives-Charensac media library, adorned with a video mapping projection. The facades of the building tell the story of the city, in a clever artistic blend of digital design and period photographs. The poetic visuals are complemented by illustrations of aquatic animals, flowering meadows and sunny fields. We’ve designed this immersive show as a dreamlike journey halfway between history and the imaginary world

The old bridge of Brives-Charensac

During Puy de Lumières, the Pont Vieux in Brives-Charensac is brought to life in a visual epic using video mapping, with the calm, untamed waters of the Loire winding beneath its historic arches. Fish dance in the sparkling reflections, while the varied landscapes of the Monts d’Auvergne and the castles that bear witness to history come into view. An immersive experience celebrating both the natural and historical splendour of the Loire River