Inca Sacred Gold

Legendary as well as mysterious, the Inca City of Gold fascinates again and again. Come and explore the Inca civilization and its secrets by visiting the exhibition “L’Or sacré des Incas” (Inca sacred gold) presented by Caen Congrès. Like Indiana Jones, you will find yourself in Peru in the middle of the reconstructed Cuzco train station and its lively atmosphere, you will travel through the jungle en route to Machu Picchu and in the footsteps of Hiram Bingham, the explorer who discovered in 1911 this famous citadel and finally, you will be dazzled by the Treasury room. A unique and pedagogic journey which will probably incite you to travel towards the Andes Cordillera…

According to the legend, the first Incas were native of the Sun island on lake Titicaca. This is probably why the worshipping of the sun had such a tremendous importance in the Inca society. In fact, the Sun day is celebrated each year on the 24th of June.

According to their religious myth, the Inca god of creation created the first man from a stone.

With its building and surroundings completely reconstructed, the Cuzco train station-Cuzco was the Inca empire capital-welcomes you in a lively and authentic atmosphere. Everything is there: the road that leads to the train station, the departure hall, the station platform and a coach of the worldwide known Perurail train.

Everybody please, come on board the Perurail train!

This train is most famous for its originality and the route it follows. Indeed, it goes to Machu Picchu, lake Titicaca and crosses the famous Inca sacred valley. An exotic journey full of sensations at an altitude of up to 4000m!

Inside the Prerurail train coach, you will find a map showing the Inca Path, unique road in the world: it goes from Ecuador to Chili, is 6000km long and was used by the Empire messengers. It made the unification of the Empire possible but turned out to be one of the causes of its fall.

In the footsteps of…Hiram Bingham and en route to Machu Picchu

Go on an adventure with Hiram Bingham, the “discoverer” of Machu Picchu the Inca mysterious city.

In the middle of vegetation, this incredible site by its size and location, one of UNESCO’s protected site because it is one of the rare Inca cities which has not been demolished by the Spanish conquistadors who were unable to find it.

The true reason of the existence of Machu Picchu is today still unknown, but one can assume that this lost city was probably a place of worship.

Discover the history of the “Inca lost city” and have fun trying to spot on the large scale model, the mountain which is said to look like a man’s profile.

The treasury room

A unique and fantastic collection of artifacts, fineries, small furniture, jewels…it will hopefully give you an insight of the Inca way of life, its traditions and treasures.

Furthermore, you will also have the opportunity to discover the mysterious origin of the Nazca geoglyphes which are these immense and mysterious drawings in the desert that can be seen only when flying above.

Peru is today considered as a true archeological “Eldorado”. Although the archeological digging is quite recent (early 20th century), its sites grow in number constantly and some the recent discoveries made, are quite significant. Among the better known are Machu Picchu discovered in 1911 and the royal tomb of Sipan discovered even later, in 1987.

The Inca Empire is an emblematic part of history due to its architectural legacy, the extent of its conquest and by its unique cultural, social and political organization. The conquistadors, unfortunately, had no interest in the depth of their culture.