The city of Lyon lights up

The city of Lyon is close to its traditions. One of the most famous parts of its identity is the iconic Festival of Lights (Fête des Lumières). Locals in Lyon are particularly attached to this annual celebration that takes place everywhere in the city at the beginning of December.    

Lyon’s Festival of Lights is an international event during which the city is filled with original and spectacular light installations for four December evenings. Every year since the first edition in 1989, entire districts of the city are lit up, with the façades of buildings displaying colorful shows of lights. Local, national, and international visual and sound artists, lighting designers, and technicians are selected to create temporary and permanent projects thanks to their exceptional skills. The Festival of Lights is a popular event that amazes locals and tourists alike, who spend the evenings wandering around the city to discover its beauty. 

During these four evenings, the city reconnects with a tradition that dates back to 1852, when a Virgin Mary statue was erected on the city’s famous Fourvière Hill. Inauguration delays led to the event being rescheduled for 8 December, the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. Due to bad weather, official ceremonies were abandoned, prompting people to spontaneously place candles in coloured glasses on their windows and balconies, symbolizing solidarity and unity. This tradition has continued since then with locals lighting up their windows with small candles called “Lumignons”.  

The Lyonnaise population is very attached to this annual celebration, which contributes to local pride and the unique character of the city. Every year, the Fête des Lumières welcomes millions of visitors.