Every summer and December as night falls, Beauvais, Amiens and Laon’s cathedrals are lit with an explosion of colours. It shows the gothic masterpieces in a totally different light – and it’s totally free to watch!
Reawakening colours from the 13th century.
It’s pitch black in the portico of the UNESCO monument Notre-Dame Cathedral…until suddenly, the three gates of the western façade and the gallery of kings are illuminated by an incredible light show. As if by magic, the cathedral’s 13th century colours are vividly brought back to life.
The idea for the multi-coloured displays came about when Notre-Dame Cathedral in Amiens was renovated between 1992 and 1999. As the many statues along the walls were renovated, more and more colours were discovered – evidence that the Cathedral had been much more colourful during the Middle Ages than it is in the present day.
At Amien’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, illuminations company Skertzò’s shows pay homage to the original, more colourful décor during the 45-minute light shows.
Meanwhile at the unfinished 13th-century Saint-Pierre Cathedral in Beauvais, in between Amiens and Paris, the light shows have a different feel. The 30-minute shows are projected onto the impressive gothic choir – the tallest in the world – to show off its stunning contours. Brightly-coloured “statues” are beamed into the usually-empty nooks and then linked by the branches of a projected giant tree.
Telling stories with lights
“In Beauvais, we’ve let our imagination run wild,” says Hélène Richard, artistic director at Skertzò. “The cathedral is like a stone book, a mirror which reflects the history of the town. We are presenting our own interpretation of its story.”
Over time, the light shows have developed and evolved. At Laon’s Notre-Dame Cathedral, the many gargoyles are brought to life with coloured lights throughout August during a 20-minute show.
