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1 4The return of LUMINISCENCE to Nice:
A new show in Notre-Dame BasilicaDesign Untitled 1Art and technology at the service of Nice’s heritage
In Nice, a land of authentic culture, history seems to permeate every stone, every alleyway and every building. A jewel nestled in the heart of the city, the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption is transformed during LUMINISCENCE into a dazzling showcase of light and music.
After bewitching over a million spectators and sublimating the most beautiful cathedrals in the world, this audacious show comes to life under the slender vaults of the basilica, where art and technology merge to celebrate Nice’s heritage.
To the rhythm of the light projections, the walls come to life, revealing every sculpted detail as if the building itself were telling its own story. Wrapped in 360-degree video mapping, the sacred space is transformed into a living fresco, while live music soars to sublimate this majestic place, metamorphosed into a vibrant work of art.
Into the secrets of the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption
In this fusion of ancient and modern, LUMINISCENCE Nice invites us to rediscover this sublime building as a beating heart of history, offering Nice a vibrant tribute to its eternal heritage. Built between 1864 and 1879 after Nice became part of France, the Basilica of Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption embodies a period rich in symbolism.
Designed by architect Charles Lenormand in a neo-Gothic style inspired by Notre-Dame de Paris and the Abbey Church of St Serge in Angers, this masterpiece, with its two 31-metre towers and sumptuous rose window, stands proudly in the heart of the city. Inside, the slender vaults and strikingly beautiful stained glass windows radiate a soft light that envelops us in an atmosphere of serenity.
Listed as a historic monument in 1975 and elevated to the rank of basilica by Pope Paul VI in 1978, this place steeped in history continues to fascinate visitors.
L’Odyssée Céleste: a new narrative experience
The result of more than eighteen months’ work, L’Odyssée Céleste is distinguished by its completely reinvented visual tableaux and a profoundly renewed narrative. After featuring the voice of Charles Lenormand in the first edition, this new show offers a new narrative angle: it is no longer the man who tells the story of the stone, but the basilica itself that comes to life and converses with a curious and amazed child.
Under the vaulted ceiling of Notre-Dame de Nice, the basilica recounts its own destiny and that of Nice, which is intimately linked to the history of France: first a fortified port in ancient times, then a Savoyard city for five centuries before its attachment to France in 1860, sealed by Napoleon III and the Kingdom of Piedmont-Sardinia. The town then went through the trials of time – the Garibaldian revolts, the earthquake of 1887, the dark hours of the Occupation and the Liberation in 1944.
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3 2 1A breathtakingly immersive show
As soon as we enter, the first bewitching notes of an entirely new musical composition by Samuel Sené and Guillaume Coignard guide our steps and transport us into a dreamlike world. Each note sounds like an invitation to surrender to a poetic stroll, where architecture and light are transformed before our eyes.
Delicately projected onto the walls and vaults, the play of light intertwines with the music, creating an atmosphere where the real and the imaginary merge harmoniously. The basilica is transformed into a genuine space for sharing and cultural discovery, bringing its walls, steeped in history, back to life. With its bold, innovative approach, LUMINISCENCE invites us to look at this sacred monument from a new angle, to reinvent our view of this majestic edifice, while preserving its timeless beauty.
The nave: at the heart of a 360° show
Comfortably seated in the nave, we look up at a vault that seems to whisper ancient stories. Thanks to cutting-edge technology from the LOTCHI studio, the immersive images projected from the bottom of the pillars to the vaults transform the architecture, creating veritable optical illusions and transporting the audience on a journey through space and time. The music soars gently, gliding through this majestic space.
This show takes us on a veritable odyssey, a profoundly renewed narrative that takes us deeper than ever into the soul of the basilica, through trials, rebirth and resilience. A tribute to Nice and its sacred edifice that, beyond the show itself, invites us to feel a deep connection with heritage and eternity.
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Luminiscence Bordeaux 3The emotion of a live choir
To complete this immersive experience, the voices of the region’s finest choristers and the majesty of the organ resonate live, amplified by a system of 22 loudspeakers spread across the nave. Each note travels through the building, enveloping us in a unique and intense sound experience.
Discovering L’Odyssée Céleste at the Basilique Notre-Dame-de-l’Assomption in Nice is a moment of wonder and communion with this sacred site. A symbol of a shared history and a timeless Nice identity, this immersive show is a genuine invitation to rediscover the beauty of our heritage, where art and technology come together to touch our hearts.
Practical information:
From 28 November 2025
1 to 2 performances per evening from Thursday to Saturday
Running time: approximately 50 minutes
Prices: from €12
Waiting list open until 5 November with -10% discount for subscribers
