“The largest operation in the world to promote heritage through light. The Chartres en lumière event, exceptional in terms of its concept but also its duration, continues to consolidate its unbeatable position in this area once again this year, for its 19th edition.
Every evening, from April 30, 2022 to January 14, 2023, no less than twenty-one Chartrain heritage sites put on their most beautiful clothes of light, thanks to various light and sound scenographies, from nightfall. One million euros invested each year in the event, 260 evenings of illuminations seven days a week, approximately one million visitors per edition… So many figures that can easily make you dizzy, “for a city of the caliber of Chartres” .
premium In pictures: relive the launch of Chartres in lights, season 19
“We started with a weekend, then a few weeks, until today we reached 260 evenings of illumination,” underlines Laurent Lhuillery, municipal councilor responsible for highlighting heritage in Chartres.
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“We always try to keep this same line: the enhancement of heritage through what it has been and what it will become. What you will see in Chartres will never be transposable elsewhere, ”assures the elected official.
Laurent Lhuillery (municipal councilor responsible for highlighting heritage)
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And for good reason. In comparison with similar shows, the city of Chartres resembles a veritable juggernaut of enlightenment. The Festival of Lights in Lyon, a must-see for almost two centuries, lasts only four days, as do the illuminations in the heart of the city of Montpellier, among others.
“We are the only ones to do this for so long today, it’s indisputable and I think we will stay ahead for a long time”, underlines Laurent Lhuillery. “The difficulty is keeping up the level because even if we are pioneers, there are other things that are being done elsewhere. »
Launched in 2003, a first Festival of Light was born in Chartres. Only one evening of illuminations, in September, on the occasion of European Heritage Days.
Nineteen years later, the Beauceron capital holds a longevity record: thirty-seven weeks of heritage highlighting planned this year, from its famous Notre-Dame cathedral to the Museum of Fine Arts, passing by the Theater or the bridges and washhouses on the banks of the Eure.
The Gobelins school lights up the theatre:
For the first time, this year, a collaboration has been set up between the City and the Gobelins school in Paris. Twenty-five 3rd year motion design students worked on mappings lasting around one minute, on the theme of theatre.
The scenographies, which notably highlight dance, comedy or even dramaturgy, have been projected on the Théâtre de Chartres since Saturday May 7, in addition to the Illusions scenography, by Marie-Jeanne Gauthé. “We also have this desire to support young people and tell them that Chartres en lumière may be open to them later, if they continue on this path”, underlines the organization of the Chartres event.
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Constantly renewing
To attract more and more people and maintain undisputed leadership, the event has had to, over time and technology, make new proposals to the public. The teams working around Chartres en lumière think, every year, about other ways to magnify the heritage in light:
“We always have to develop this project artistically speaking: technologies change, so we adapt, while trying to have a very wide panel in terms of light. »
Laurent Lhuillery
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Renewal of mappings and scenographies, collaboration with new artists…
This year, onlookers have already been able to discover several novelties as they stroll through the streets of Chartres, including the lighting of the Hôtel Montescot, the historic seat of the municipality, or even twelve new scenographies projected on the Théâtre de la city and made by students from the Gobelins school in Paris.
This constantly reminds the whole world of the unique character of the Chartrain event. An event which, given its success, is not about to die out.
Agenda :
The 19th edition of Chartres en lumière takes place every evening, from April 30, 2022 to January 14, 2023. From May 1 to July 31, from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m. From August 1 to 31, from 9:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. From September 1 to 30, from 8:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. From October 1 to January 14, 2023, from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. Illuminated sites:
Almost everywhere in the city, twenty-one sites don their clothes of light: the cathedral (royal portal, southern portal and northern portal), the Museum of Fine Arts, the Eurelium, the Saint-André collegiate church, the Montescot hotel (new for 2022), the bridges and washhouses on the banks of the Eure, Saint-Pierre church, rue Saint-Pierre (new for 2022, during the season), Place Billard, the De Lattre de Tassigny fresco, the Chartres Theater (new for 2022) and the tip of the L’Apostrophe media library.
Practice :
All information can be found on the event website: www.chartresenlumieres.com, or by downloading the dedicated mobile app: Chartres en lumière. Guided tours are also offered by the Chartres Métropole Tourist Office, to discover the event differently. For all information: www.chartres-tourisme.com.
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Laura Alliche
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