Traveling in Time | 'CHRONOS' with Yannis Pelé

Urbex awakens questions and curiosity. Who has never wondered what was the past of these many abandoned places? “Chronos” in ancient Greek, is a personification of time. Through this new video, let yourself be carried away for a space-time journey through those places full of stories & history. Staged scenes will allow us to discover certain stories of the sites like if they were frozen in time, despite the eras crossed. Combining this urban aspect with the beauty of the landscapes is providing an interesting contrast. The human capacity to build such buildings, in such unusual places is crazy…

And what about this excess of the constructions size which continue to increase. Those discoveries opened our eyes even more to the evolution of humans over time, the way in which humanity was constructed and the needs of each civilization. This also leads us to reflect on our relationship with time: everything speeds up, impatience becomes almost innate, we all want to go faster and faster, sometimes too much.

Let your imagination wander and enjoy!

Story Highlights in Pictures

Around -20 000 BC

Humanity is starting to leave trace of its presence on earth. Those sculptures are silents witness of a distant era. They demonstrate the beginning of human creativity 

Around -10 000 BC

The flickering light of a campfire once illuminated those galleries which also sheltered nomads from storms. Much more than a simple refuge, they were using the walls of those caves as painting and it show today the beginning of human creativity through primitive art. 

1st Century

We can still hear the crowd cheering in the Arena, one of the Roman Empire's greatness. This majestic amphitheater hosted many gladiators seeking glory and fame. A cruel and festive place that has stood the test of time.

5th Century

The wind blows through the battles waving the flag representing the local Lord, while the guard, face hidden behind his great helm, stands still. 

14th Century

The ground trembles and the metallic clinking of the armors is deafening. Then suddenly, nothing. The silence resonates while both sides are starring at each other. The seconds seem to last hours. Then in a martial ballet where brute force meets skills, frenzy takes over this forest. 

18th Century

Warm hued underground labyrinths have colored the entire territory. Hidden under this typical Provence vegetation, the ochre sand landscape counted numerous and huge vaults.

19th Century

Coal-colored smoke rises into the sky, at the same time a whistle sounds. The train arrives at the station after having crossed the French countryside for several hours. Leaving the wagons, the tourists are able to feel the sea breeze of the Bay of Somme.

The wind gusts whistle after having hit "le cuirassé des nuages". Nestled at more than 3000 above sea level, its eight towers dominate the surrounding Italian and French valleys. Defying the heavens, this fortress seems impregnable...

1925

Like a spider weaving its web, building the highest cable car of France was a huge project. With as single goal: challenge the high altitude and almost reach the Aiguille du Midi, at 2414m. It was only 30 years later that the 3842m of the summit were accessible via the gondola. Flying over this giant of ice is impressive but also shows how fragile it is. 

1944, June 6

The first lights of the day are appearing in the sky. The sea spray doesn’t reach this monolithic place as it is so inaccessible. Inside, a German guy looks wistfully at a family picture. Raising his head, he discerns troubling silhouettes away, something...

1944, June 6

Bullets ricochet off the shielding, sand flies around the men who take refuge behind this shield. This Sherman is slaloming through the dunes of the French beach when suddenly, a terrible noise sounds, the giant will no longer move.

1946

The colorful little convertible hurtles down the winding roads with ease. The opened windows let the sweet scent of summer in. With its lukewarm performance, this car, the people’s car, paraded in the landscapes for decades. It represent the expression of a need, which has, through the force of time, become a symbol of France.

1990 

This curious and historical wash house is just one of the witnesses of the ephemeral dynamism of this small town. The black coal was extracted from there, leaving foul mine waste behind. The labor has given way to a tangle of concrete beams and huge vats that only time will empty.

1990

The coal ore has tarnished the walls of this toxic ramp. As a symbol of significant mining activity, those corridors are now empty. No more reason to stir up the dust, it stays here, stagnant, like a black river.

1956

From the sky, the God of the Seas inspects its depths. In distant lands, the tool was used during the Cold War for morbid tasks. This sentry of the skies is now taking a well-deserved rest.

1965

Witnesses of an harsh era, these irregularities lie in vast plains. These monuments were erected by dark faced humans. They are the vestiges of those hard workers who went down to face the bowels of the earth.

1980

Something like darkness who is gradually coming back to life. Birch trees now grow up here by hundreds. MTB riders even make it their playground. A new life even for this inhospitable mound of waste.

1993

The cicadas’ melody is covered by the sound of the crowd. They came to gather around ancestral paths to attend the birth of a new discipline. With their frail steel frames, those intrepid people hurtled down these sunny slopes. 

2023

The coffee is served in an elegant cup. It delights the young woman who has just sat down on this Parisian terrace. She contemplates the hustle and bustle of the street, the laughter escaping from the neighboring cafes and the timeless charm of Haussmannian architecture. The lady is suddenly surprised by a fleeting silhouette on the roofs, unless she was dreaming?

2023

He is free, running on the roofs, even if it seems inaccessible to those people below. This cat no longer fears the danger because of his agility, training and skills. He impresses passersby. More than a sport it is art, the art of movement.

Unknown Date

In this pit, the droplets hitting the puddles on the ground is the only sound. Neither daylight, nor whisper of the wind. We are in labyrinthian mazes, where so many memories mislead explorers eager for curiosities.

BEHIND THE SCENES 

Because beyond those images, we experienced incredible and privileged moments of life, full of discoveries and beautiful encounters. Like every adventure, some moments are more difficult but the reward definitely worth it.

The TEAM 

First of all Nicolas, our drone pilot, who is enjoying in scaring myself by brushing me, everything under control of course… At least that’s what he says. 

Our van, a faithful adventure mate, at least when it wants to be.

And Pierre, author of those different pictures, also videographer, but above all, a childhood friend. We have been putting our ideas into images for more than 10 years now.