For the love of the game, we defied the cold for a luminous odyssey in the forest with the Lumières en Seine trail. For the occasion, and as every year at the same time, the lush greenery of the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud was transformed into a two-kilometre-long showcase of light. For the second edition, 25 tableaux were set up, each more captivating than the last. We’ve seen them all, and spoiler alert: we A-DO-RÉ! In the midst of the end-of-year preparations, this experience catapults us into the holiday atmosphere, with its gourmet chalets and thousand-and-one lights. An ideal experience for a romantic date or an original outing with friends or family.
Our review of Lumières en Seine
It’s time to put on coats, scarves and hats and take line 10 to the Domaine National de Saint-Cloud. After entering through the Clémenceau gate and skirting the banks of the Seine at the Pont de Saint-Cloud, you’re immediately drawn in by the luminosity that radiates from the site. A total of 25 illuminated tableaux await us, featuring luminous sculptures, aurora borealis, celestial curtains, magical fountains, fiery pools and giant anemones.
Against a soundscape backdrop (which adds to the fairytale dimension of the site), we venture along the Route des Étoiles, take in the Symphony of the Elements, pass through a dazzling Field of Luminescence, pass through the luminous drops of the Grande Cascade, explore the Cosmic Forest… Far from being a purely contemplative tour, we are not only actors, but spectators. You can activate luminous spheres, for example, using only the force of your arms. There’s even a downloadable application that acts as a virtual guide to ensure the best possible experience.
Above all, you’ll be bombarded with photos, as the site is as Instagrammable as it gets. Some of the installations have been designed to interact with each other. Climb into a balloon of light, pose in front of an Eiffel Tower made entirely of LEDs, fall back into childhood on the Grand Carrousel…
After the effort, the comfort: gourmet chalets with regressive fragrances offer themselves to us. Here, we enjoy sandwiches dripping with raclette cheese and crispy waffles, before getting back on the train for home, still full of stars in our eyes. In short, with friends or family, this is the experience you absolutely must try out this season!