Atelier des Lumières is the place to be in Paris when it comes to artistic immersion. Even if art isn’t really your “thing,” it is hard not to be swept up in this impressive sound and light show. Of course, it’s in Paris. Paris is one of those world-class cities that oozes culture.
Paris and The Arts
Artistic beauty is omnipresent in Paris. Gardens are filled with fountains and sculptures.
Statues reveal themselves on street corners piquing the attention of even the notoriously uncurious. Who is this? Why is it significant?
There is some edgy graffiti in Paris and
groovy funky wall art, if you are looking for it.
Of course, Paris is the home of the Musée du Louvre, the most visited museum (that is, fortress, turned palace, turned museum) in the world. While the outside isn’t too shabby to look at,
people line up in droves to see Leonardo da Vinci’s, Mona Lisa.
The Musee D’Orsay is in a gorgeous old railway station.
Canvasses of the impressionist and the post-impressionist masters transport you to another place and time.
Paris has the big hitters, no doubt. But in its approximately 130 museums there are smaller collections of every sort you can imagine. One of my goals as a solo traveller to Paris is to visit every museum. It may happily take me a lifetime.
Museums in Paris are dedicated to perfume, fashion (would you expect any less), smoking, the sewer system, wine, the Middle Ages and magic.
Atelier des Lumières: The Immersive Experience
And then there’s complete art immersion. Opening in April 2018 was Atelier des Lumières, a sound and light art exhibition occupying a space that was a former cast iron foundry built in 1835.
The immersive experience at Atelier des Lumières presents the artwork in a highly sensorial manner with 140 projectors, 50 loudspeakers and 3,300 square metres of projection surface area.
The first exhibition in Paris was dedicated to the Austrian artist Gustav Klimt on the 100th anniversary of his death. More than 3000 images share the most famous elements of Klimt’s work.
At Atelier des Lumières, you find yourself walking in the paintings accompanied by a musical score.
The paintings are larger than life and your toes start tapping to carefully selected music. Perhaps a Viennese waltz or David Bowie.
I, for one, became an instant Gustav Klimt fan at the Atelier des Lumières and have been blown away by subsequent presentations on Salvator Dali, the Impressionists, and van Gogh. The shows at Atelier des Lumières are another way of diving into the Paris art scene.
Atelier des Lumières: 2024 – 2025 Show
- 2024 Show: The Egypt of the Pharaohs, The Orientalists, Foreign Nature
- An entry ticket is good for all three shows
- 2024 Dates: February 2024 to January 5, 2025
Atelier des Lumières: Practicalities
- Location: Atelier des Lumiéres 38 rue Saint- Maur, Paris 75011
- Métro: Pére Lachaise or Menilmontant
- Opening Hours: 10h – 18h every day. Evenings until 22h on Friday and Saturday
- Official Website: Atelier des Lumières
- 2024 Entry Tickets: Adults €17
Frequently Asked Questions
How long can I stay at Atelier des Lumières?
You can stay as long as you want at Atelier des Lumières in Paris. Arrive at your time and enter the show. Do not be surprised if it is already running. It is a great idea to watch the show fully at least twice. There is a lot to absorb and enjoy.
Should I buy my ticket online for Atelier des Lumières?
It is highly recommended to purchase your ticket online. You can enter Atelier des Lumières 30 minutes before or after your assigned time.
Does my ticket guarantee a seat at Atelier des Lumières?
There is no assigned seating at Atelier des Lumières in Paris. Walk. Stand. Sit on the floor. Lean against a pillar. If you climb the stairs, there are a few seats up top but not many.
Where is the best place to watch the show at Atelier des Lumières?
One of the best things to do at Atelier des Lumières is to move around as there is no assigned seating. Pick a spot and watch. Look all around. Move places. It changes your perspective on how you interact with the art and the music.
Is the music loud at Atelier des Lumières?
Yes, you may not enjoy the program if you have sensitive hearing.
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