A Drive through Hell
Below Les Baux is a jagged and irregular gorge, Val d'Enfer (Valley of Hell). You can access the valley by D27 and D78G and drive through this bleak and rugged scenery. Centuries ago, caves in the gorge were inhabited by humans. The gorge is the source of many Provençal legends -- witches, sprites, and fairies are said to live in the caves.
On your way to the valley, you can stop at the Cathédrale d'Images (tel. 04-90-54-38-65; www.cathedrale-images.com), off Route du Val d'Enfer (D27), a kilometer (half-mile) north of the village, in a former quarry. Photographer Albert Plecy converted this dark, cavernous space of large, square limestone columns and high-arched ceilings into a three-dimensional palette for an interactive experience with frescoes of the Italian Renaissance. Forty-eight strategically placed projectors splash images from the frescoes in all directions: You might walk across a projection of a full fresco, while on the wall next to you a close-up of an infant's face from the scene is enlarged and displayed, and above you the dueling men in the back of the fresco are plucked out and brought into focus. The moving display, in synchronization with well-chosen musical pieces from the era, is 30 minutes long, though you can stay longer and watch the loop replay. It's open daily from 10am to 7pm; closed January 2 to February 8. Admission is 7.50€ ($9.75) for adults, 3.50€ ($4.55) for children under 18.
