Photo Gallery

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Machu Picchu, la cité sanctuaire consacrée par les Incas au soleil, ne fut découverte qu'en 1911. Elle se situe dans la Cordillère des Andes, au nord du Cuzco, à une altitude de 3000 mètres.

The historic Hatun Rumiyoq alley in Cusco features a masterfully constructed Inca wall made of massive, perfectly hewn blocks of green diorite. These blocks originate from the original palace of the Inca ruler Inka Roca. The stones were fitted together so precisely, without any mortar, that not even a knife blade can fit between them. Following the Spanish conquest, the conquistadors erected their own buildings on top of the extremely earthquake-resistant Inca foundations. The white façade in the upper section belongs to what is now the Archbishop’s Palace. Roughly in the middle of this wall lies the world-famous "Piedra de los 12 ángulos". This single stone has exactly twelve corners, which fit seamlessly into the surrounding wall. – Peru – 1969

Alpacas and llamas graze in front of the impressive zigzag walls of Sacsayhuamán, a monumental archaeological site of the Inca civilisation situated directly above the city of Cusco. The fortress was built in the 15th century under the Inca ruler Pachacútec Yupanqui. The heaviest stones in the complex weigh over 100 tonnes. The blocks were hewn with such precision and fitted together without mortar that often not even a sheet of paper can fit between them. The historic city plan of Cusco was laid out by the Incas in the shape of a puma – the symbol of the earthly world. Sacsayhuamán formed the head of the puma, whilst the zigzag-shaped walls represented the animal’s teeth (or the lightning bolts of the thunder god Illapa). The entire complex served primarily as a ceremonial and religious centre. Today, only around 20% to 40% of the original structure remains. The Spanish removed the smaller stones to build colonial churches and houses in Cusco; however, the gigantic megaliths forming the foundations remained firmly in place. – 1969

At 3500 meters above sea level, the cyclopean fortress of Sacsayhuamán dominates the city of Cuzco. With its three monolithic ramparts in the shape of saw teeth, this “Maginot Line” of the Incas “overshadows the pyramids on the Nile ...” (Tirso de Molina, 1583-1648). Some of these blocks of this giant puzzle, set like gemstones by unknown and great jewelers, are 9 meters high, 4 meters thick and weigh more than 350 tons! - 1969