These two outdoor "spectacles" in Quebec City look really interesting, but their websites don't seem to answer all my questions (or at least I can't find the answers if they are there).
Concerning the Image Mill, what is the "sound" part of the "sound and light"? Narration? Music? A mix? My French is pretty rusty, and I will be with someone who speaks no French. Is the visual interest enough to compensate for any "mental fatigue" that might result from not understanding the audio? (By way of analogy, I have seen films that thoroughly engaged me although I understood not one word, and I have seen others that I gave up on precisely because I could not understand any of the dialog).
Also, how early should one arrive to have a good viewing spot? Do you have to have a radio to hear the audio, or are there speakers that broadcast it in a certain area? That part was unclear to me. And can you take folding chairs to sit on?
The website for Les Chemins Invisibles says they don't allow chairs to be brought in (for security reasons). But what about disabled or older people? I can't find anything that talks about provision for people who can't stand for over an hour.
And do you have to join in the processions (I know that is part of the fun), or can you just go straight to the "scène centrale"? Again, how early do you need to arrive?
Both of these look like great productions, and the price is right (free!), so any input would be appreciated.
Book Your Next Trip
Check hotel rates and airfares around the world.
Find a great deal?
Tell us about it.
Hotels
Flights
Packages
Cars
Cruises
Each website you select will open a new window in your browser.
Le Moulin à Images (The Image Mill) & Les Chemins Invisibles
12 Replies | Jump to last reply
|12 Replies |Back to top
|Sign in to comment.
Recent Activity
View all Canada activity »
- 1
Mini-Alberta trip
- 2 What to do with a 7 Year Old in Quebec City
- 3 Quebec City/Montreal in Winter
- 4 Who likes Werther's candy?
- 5 Vancouver Olympics hotel scam?
- 6 Vancouver / Victoria / Seattle and surrounds August ???
- 7 hidden gems in BC
- 8 Alberta Canadian Rockies Trip
- 9 Health care in Canada
- 10 So - nutty as it is, we decided to make the trip to Alberta
- 11 Quebec City over Spring Break
- 12 Alberta to Niagra Falls, ON
- 13 Where to go for Christmas: Vancouver or Victoria
- 14 central Charlottetown: walkable with amenities?
- 15 Good deals in Calgary
- 16 Calgary airport area hotel/restaurant
- 17 The hotel called one king west in Toronto
- 18 Internet access
- 19 What area to stay in Montreal?
- 20
Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper, & more....trip report & photos
- 21 Anyone planning on going to the Winter Olympics in 2010?
- 22 chicago toronto, by train
- 23
Trip Report- Banff, Jasper, & Lake Louise
- 24 Five nights in NS - Cape Breton or Yarmouth? We think Cape Breton.
- 25 Nova Scotia trip planning
Trip Ideas
Wow! These sound like fun! We will also be in Quebec City this summer and I would love to hear more about these two productions. Unfortunately like your friend, we do not speak French. I know the Cirque production would be entertaining without understanidng the language but I wonder about the Image Mill. I can't wait to hear the replies to your questions.
The Moulins à images soundtrack is instrumental music. No need to understand French.
Louis P,
That's great! Do you know whether it is broadcast over speakers, or just over the radio?
Here is something I found from last year's show:
For those interested, the show’s sound set-up features over 300 loudspeakers and subs running along the viewing area. For spectators taking in the show from deeper in the city, or perhaps a hotel room, several radio stations are simultaneously broadcasting the show’s soundtrack.
Thanks, kkukura. I saw something similar, but it was ambiguous. What you found is clearer.
Anyone seen or heard about Les Chemins Invisibles?
Ok, almost three weeks have passed since I last asked.
Anyone been to or heard about Les Chemins Invisibles in that time?
We got back yesterday from our trip to Montreal, Quebec City, and Tadoussac. In Quebec City we went to see the Image Mill, but not the Cirque show(we saw OVO in Montreal). The Image Mill was well done. We were staying in the upper town so we walked to the steps leading to the lower town, but we just stood with a crowd and leaned against the wall and watched the show from there. We were able to hear the music from there also. Not knowing much of the specifics of Quebec history I was pretty clueless on what everything meant, but I did enjoy the show. It was very well done. Now I plan to read up some more about the history of Quebec and think I will understand more of what was shown. I did notice seats right on the pier which I assume were for those who got there first or got tickets? Some of the people from the B&B we stayed in went to the Cirque show. This is what I heard from them...the people varied in age from teenagers to a couple in their 70's. They said they got there early and still there were a lot of people. They had difficulty seeing through the crowds most of the time. What they did see they enjoyed though. There were three 30 mintue shows put on in different areas of the street. So the people, depending upon where they stood, got to see some different performers. They especially liked a guy with hula hoops. I am not sure if this answers your questions enough, but I thought I would share what I experienced.
Thanks, kkukura! That is a big help.
One of my concerns about both shows has been whether there is a place to sit. That is especially true now that my mom has been having trouble with her leg. I'm not sure we will be able to do either of these if we have to stand for an hour.
I e-mailed the Image Mill producers about taking chairs to the port area but have not heard back. I guess I need to ask around (like at tourist info) to see if there are other places we could set up lawn chairs or that has benches or similar. I read on-line that there is someone selling tickets for seats in the port area for $15 each (the ones you saw), but I was hoping not to have to pay.
I need to contact Cirque de Soleil to ask the same question about their show. In fact, I think maybe I did already and never heard back from them, so I will try again.
I saw the Image Mill in '08 and recall seeing people on their own folding chairs. Also I was with a mobility-challenged person and we were ushered (free) to a special 3-foot high platform with perfect view and room for about 20 wheelchairs motorized or not, with one companion each.
Of course you have to *find* that area, and we more or less stumbled onto it. I could not see any signs pointing to it. All I can tell you is -- figure out where the best seating would be and it's nearby. Or maybe ask around.
You are not required to arrive early, but in practice, you need about 45 minutes' lead (depending on the weather) to make your way through the crowds.
The sound is on loudspeakers as well as radio. I understand it's been toned down this year to spare the ears and nerves of people living nearby, so if you're not in the Old Port area, you'll need a radio. Although the sound is almost entirely music and sound effects so it's not essential for enjoyment of the show.
I saw Les Chemins Invisibles on Saturday 08/08 and there were no accommodations for wheelchairs that I could see. And I didn't see anybody being allowed inside with a folding chair. Maybe way in back. But basically it's standing room only -- reminiscent of Tokyo subway platforms. Hopefully it isn't as bad on a weeknight.
My companion in her wheelchair could not see *any* thing other than the 5-minute parade opening the show, and I (standing 5'10") -- well, let's say I would have kicked myself for not bringing a periscope -- if I'd had kicking room, that is.
Showing up early didn't help as others were let in later and allowed to stand in front of us - a number of which 8 feet tall due to a kid perched on dad's shoulders. Furthermore, we were jostled throughout the show by people leaving in disgust.
The show itself wasn't too bad but only 75 minutes long and IMHO definitely not up to CdS standards. Let's just say that with this (free) show, we got our money's worth.
I e-mailed Quebec City Tourism before we left, and here was the reply I got about bringing in chairs:
"I received your message concerning the sitting at the event 'Les Chemins Invisibles'. Unfortunately, there is no place where people can sit and people are not allowed to bring chairs on the site. However, we understand that a few people cannot stand for as long as 90 minutes. Therefore, we allow only these people to bring chairs and to talk with security agents on the site (the name of the company is SIROIS) so they can find them a safe place to sit.
Your mother will have to sit far from the stage and might not see while she is sitting but at least she will be able to stay with your and to enjoy most of the show."
As it turned out, the closest we got was driving past the site - every day we were in the city, and never intentionally! Once we went by in the early evening (Friday, I think), and there was already a huge crowd waiting to enter the "venue"- and it was only about 7:00. The other two times it was later and I was trying to find the A440 to go back to our hotel. We got to see a "peek" of the set as we drove up the ramp to the freeway (but I couldn't see the activity of the show).
As for the Image Mill, we saw part of it when we crossed the St. Lawrence on the ferry from Lévis (where we had enjoyed ice cream at Les Chocolats Favoris - incredible, but that's another story). We had to wait a while for the ferry to depart, so it was a decent sampling.
We were in the car and listened to the radio as well as watched (I had my binoculars with me, which helped). We agreed it was interesting to see, but we also felt that the whole thing would have been a bit much. It didn't really grab either of us.
And we timed things perfectly so that we arrived just as it ended, thus getting to negotiate the crowds leaving the port area. They were mostly orderly, though, and it didn't take as long as I had feared. When she saw how many people there were (this was Saturday night), Mom was REALLY glad we had not tried to go down to the port area to watch it - way too many folks for her.
By the way, since it was Saturday we also enjoyed part of the fireworks show from Les Grands Feux down at Montmorency Falls while were were on the ferry. We had a great view of the finale. We had been to the entire show on Wednesday night.