The vast archaeological complex of Pisac, one of the imperial "capitals".

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Dans le département du Cuzco se trouvent les ruines de villes que les Incas élevèrent entre le 12e et le 1 6e siècle. Celle de Pissac occupe une esplanade qui domine la vallée sacrée des Incas. Les blocs sont taillés dans du granit rose d'une exceptionnelle qualité.

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Andenes, terrasses de cultures incaïques de Pisac (département du Cuzco).

The legends are only available in German, French or Spanish
Dans le doux «Eden » de la Vallée tropicale sacrée des Incas s'étend à 3.100 mètres d'altitude le vaste complexe archéologique de Pisac, l'une des «capitales» impériales. Une trentaine de résidences au style raffiné entourent l'Intihuatana elliptique, voué au culte astral.

In the gentle "Eden" of the sacred tropical Valley of the Incas, at an altitude of 3,100 meters, the vast archaeological complex of Pisac, one of the imperial "capitals", extends. About thirty residences in a refined style surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the sun cult. - 1969

The picture shows the Sacred Valley of the Incas (Spanish: Valle Sagrado de los Incas) in the Cusco region of Peru. The Urubamba River (also known as the Río Vilcanota) winds its way through the fertile valley. In the background and on the slopes, you can see the characteristic agricultural terraces (andenes) built by the Incas, as well as winding roads. – 1976

The Sacred Valley of the Incas (Valle Sagrado de los Incas) in the Cusco region of Peru. On the left in the background, the Urubamba River (Río Urubamba) flows through the flat valley floor. On the right-hand side, the characteristic, curved agricultural terraces of the Incas can be seen. These served to make steep mountain slopes cultivable, prevent erosion and create microclimates for various crops (primarily maize). The flat floor of the Urubamba Valley is divided into regular, chequerboard-like fields and is still used intensively for traditional farming today. A historic, highly sophisticated system of canals runs through the fields, channelling meltwater from the surrounding Andean glaciers directly onto the cultivated land. – 1969

The picture shows the archaeological complex of Písac, one of the most significant Inca ruins in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru. The site is perched on a ridge above the town of Písac and is renowned for its gigantic, stepped agricultural terraces (andenes). These terraces were masterfully integrated by the Incas into the steep mountain slopes to create microclimates for the cultivation of various crops (primarily maize) whilst preventing soil erosion. At the top of the cliff, the stone remains of Inca outposts and residential buildings can also be seen, which served to defend and monitor the valley. – 1969

In a widening of the deeply incised Urubamba Valley, which links Cuzco with Machu Picchu, lies the small town of Pisac, famous for its Sunday market. On the slopes above the town, artfully laid out agricultural terraces have stretched upwards since Inca times, transforming even the steepest mountain flanks into gigantic staircases that were used for growing potatoes, maize, oca and quinoa. - Book: Picture 126 - Peru - 1976

In the idyllic ‘Eden’ of the tropical sacred valley of the Incas, the great ruined city of Pisac, one of the ‘capitals’ of the empire, stands at an altitude of 3,100 metres. Around thirty residences of the finest architecture surround the elliptical Intihuatana, dedicated to the worship of the sun. – 1969

The impressive Inca ruins of Písac, situated in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in the Cusco region of Peru. The archaeological site lies on a mountain ridge high above the village of Písac and the River Urubamba. It is famous for its sophisticated architecture, the extensive agricultural terraces (andenes) and its strategic and religious significance during the Inca Empire. In the foreground is the Q’alla Q’asa sector, which, according to researchers, probably served as a residential quarter for guards, soldiers or priests. The buildings are precisely constructed from stone and nestle perfectly against the steep terrain. In the centre lies a sacred rock – the ‘place where the sun is tied’ – which served as an astronomical calendar for the Incas to determine the solstices. – 1976

The central ceremonial area known as Intihuatana within the Parque Arqueológico de Písac in the Sacred Valley of the Incas in Peru. The most striking feature in this area is the semi-circular, D-shaped wall in the top right-hand corner of the picture. It encloses the sacred Intihuatana stone. In Quechua, the term means ‘place where the sun is tied’. It is a pillar hewn from natural rock which served the Incas as a precise solar compass, an astronomical observatory and a ritual altar for determining solstices and harvest cycles. The precise stonemasonry (masonry of finely hewn pink granite without mortar) clearly distinguishes this royal and religious precinct from the simpler residential or military structures in the rest of the fortress. – 1976

Photo Gallery