THE MORNING LIST
In the heart of the Centre-Loire Valley region, Orléans is served by several railway lines. The TER trains offer surprising experiences in castles and unusual walks through the forest, less than half an hour away.
In Beaugency, ancient stones and pixels
Like all the Loire castles built in the 11th century.my century and modernized during the Renaissance, that of Beaugency (Loiret), which was also a beggars’ asylum in the 19th centurymy century, has large rooms, immense fireplaces and spiral staircases in which we cross pressing against the thick walls. But the visitor is immersed in a completely different universe, thanks to twenty luminous works that set the ancient stones on fire. On the top floor, in a room free of furniture, children play, jump and dance on discs fixed to the floor, which light up as they jump, soon imitated by their parents.
In a room with an impressively high ceiling, 3,000 illuminated plastic balls, suspended from cables, create a “point cloud” whose colors constantly vary. Viewers are asked to walk through the installation, immerse themselves in it, and hide there. Below the frame, an inflatable castle similar to those in playgrounds invites mischief and pranks. Several floors below, under the exposed beams of the guard room, three brief sound and visual shows take place on the walls, including a captivating performance of Clara, creation of the musical duo Aube.
“The visitor loses his balance for an hour and a half”jubilant Anne-Sophie Acomat, who bought the castle in 2020 with Jérémie Bellot. Architects and visual artists transformed the venerable residence into a digital art center by inviting other artists. Between pixels, electronic music and color projectors, the magic is constantly renewed. At the end of this journey into the imagination, it would be a shame to leave aside the beautiful medieval complex that constitutes Beaugency, a well-known stopover for cycle tourists who cycle along the Loire. Along the cobblestone streets, half-timbered houses recall the glorious past of this river port. The stream that descends from the slopes is an excuse for a beautiful country walk between mills.
Château de Beaugency, 2, place Dunois, 10 minutes walk from the station. Price: adult, 11 euros; 6-11 years, 7 euros.
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