Brighten up your evenings with the “Lumières de Sens”

In the space of just a few years, the Lumières de Sens show has become a must-see of the Burgundian summer. Just picture this… the first Gothic cathedral lit up as the sun goes down! And that’s not all, since a second show also takes place in the medieval town of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne. Your evenings in the Sénonais region are guaranteed to be illuminated! Here are our recommendations for a successful evening out!

A much-awaited sound and lights show

Every year, people really look forward to this event, and rightly so! “Lumières de Sens” is an original sound and lights show, projected onto a part of the Saint-Etienne cathedral in Sens, and onto the Porte de Sens in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne. These two iconic buildings are transformed and take us on a fantastic journey in a wonderful combination of history and the world of fantasy. Every year, we are surprised to see that the show is made even better with brand-new surprises!

The cathedral is transformed !

Villeneuve-sur-Yonne's Porte de Sens is transformed too

While you’re waiting for the sun to go down and the show to begin, there’s lots to keep you busy!

You could for example relax on the terrace of one of the restaurants in front of the cathedral and taste some local specialities. Why not try the Thomas Becket beer? Who knows, you might then have the best seat in the house for the show. We recommend you book a table on the terrace because these seats are very popular!

Local artists are given pride of place for the Lumières de Sens. You will most likely see some street entertainment (dancing, concerts, circus acts, artistic performances…) in front of the cathedral or in the courtyard of Villeneuve-sur-Yonne town hall. What a great way to begin the evening!

While you’re waiting for the sun to go down and the show to begin, there’s lots to keep you busy!

Street entertainment before the show begins

Portuguese danses before the show begins

Did you arrive in Sens at the end of the day and didn’t have time to visit the cathedral? On Saturdays, there are guided tours in the evenings before the show, accessible to all, called “Préludes aux Lumières de Sens”. Just picture this… the cathedral is open just for you, with soft lighting and an opportunity to learn about the history and architecture for one hour. Are you interested in this tour? Come and meet us in front of the cathedral at 8:30pm.

The cathedral at twilight

Visit of the cathderal at night

Inside the cathedral, at night

Finally, you can treat yourself at the night time arts and crafts market in Villeneuve-sur-Yonne. It takes place on some Saturday evenings, in the courtyard of the town hall next to the Porte de Sens, where the lights show takes place. You are guaranteed to catch the beginning of the show!

Let the sound and lights show begin!

From 10pm, the crowd starts to get bigger and the square fills up… Families, groups of friends, couples, local people and visitors from all over the world (we can hear lots of different languages spoken!) try to get the best possible view. Don’t worry, there’s enough space for everyone! There’s a real family-friendly and festive atmosphere here and you can literally feel the excitement in the air… Not long now, the show is about the begin!

To find the “best spot”… Get as close to the front as possible: there’ll be less people in front of you so you’ll see the details better, but you might have a stiff neck from looking up! If you’re sensitive to the light then this isn’t the spot for you! If you stay at the back, you still get a good view of the whole show, without having to look up too much!

At 10:30pm the lights go out and we are in complete darkness, total silence, then suddenly… The music begins, and the lights and colours appear before our eyes… The show has begun! We won’t tell you any more, to keep the suspense! But what we can tell you is that the Lumière de Sens is a blend of magic, poetry and a welcoming spirit, and it always ends with thunderous applause!

Lumières de Sens

Adverts