Lyon's Festival of Lights, a glittering annual event

The origins of the Festival of Lights go back to the 19th century, and even the 17th century. In 1852, a sculpture of the Virgin Mary was due to be unveiled under the dome of Fourvière church. However, the event was postponed until 8 December, the day of the Virgin's conception, after heavy rainfall caused the waters of the Saône to rise 2 months earlier. Unfortunately, the region was once again hit by stormy weather on that day.

The people of Lyon, who had venerated the Virgin Mary ever since she answered their prayers and spared them from the plague epidemic of 1643, had promised to pay homage to her. So when the skies suddenly cleared that afternoon, the locals lit candles in their windows. And so the first Festival of Lights was born. And the tradition has continued ever since! Around the same time in 1989, the town council decided to light up the town's monuments in addition to the candles, and in 1999 sound and light shows were added to the tradition.

Since 1989, the city of Lyon has been illuminated by a thousand lights, much to the delight of residents and tourists alike. The Festival of Lights is one of the biggest and most eagerly awaited events of the season.

At the time, the Festival of Lights had a religious dimension. Over the years, however, it has evolved into a festive gathering of the population. It's an event you should attend at least once, for the beauty of the works of art that illuminate the city and the festive atmosphere that reigns at this time of year. The more traditional Lyonnais still put up luminous lights in their windows on the evening of 8 December.

Every year, visitors flock to Lyon to witness this unique spectacle. No fewer than 2 million people gather during the festivities to admire the city under the spotlight. Join them, book a ticket for Lyon and admire the illusions created by the light. You won't want to miss it, and we bet you'll be there again the following year!

Over the last few years, the Festival has incorporated a number of technical elements: images, movement and colour. Technology has replaced candles to turn the show into an artistic jewel and make it even more fantastic. For this occasion, artists, designers, scenographers, lighting designers and creators are putting all their talent at the service of the electricity fairy to offer the public a truly sparkling weekend.

Between dreamlike, unifying, intuitive and participative works, the whole city lights up and the night transports us into a whole new universe. Buildings change colour as if by magic, and the light draws art onto Lyon's monuments. Hundreds of sites will be under the spotlight, and lights on every street corner will give everyone the chance to dream for a few hours.

A veritable staging of the event has been prepared for the occasion by a host of trades and professions, providing an opportunity to put them in the limelight. It's not easy to come down from that little cloud of light at the end of the evening...

On the weekend closest to 8 December, the City of Lights shines with a thousand lights on four evenings. Each year, the programme is different, to satisfy the curious and the more experienced alike. The vast majority of the city's key monuments will be illuminated, and dozens of works of art will be scattered around the city.

The Place des Terreaux, the Parc de la Tête d'Or and Vieux Lyon are all at the heart of the creativity, with fixed installations and monumental, intimate or majestic mappings. Let yourself be carried away by the lights and wander through the city. More specific routes are suggested for each edition, according to theme. Fortunately, the event lasts several evenings, so you'll have plenty of time to explore all these extraordinary worlds of light.

For 4 days, the city undergoes a metamorphosis, and shows enliven every evening. As the years go by, Lyon's Festival of Lights continues to get more and more creative... A visual experience like no other in the world! Street performance companies also put on original and surprising installations that will leave you speechless. So, come to Lyon in early December to discover the most creative and beautiful works of light there are.

The regulars will be able to tell you the most outstanding work of each edition, the one that transported them. The Trophée des Lumières is even awarded each year for the public's favourite work.

The Iris work highlights all the facets of human vision, in a subjugating show bursting with colour. For the 2019 edition, it's the Place Bellecour, with its hundreds of luminous plants and incongruous flying creatures, that has captured the hearts of visitors.

Lyon's Festival of Lights aims to be eco-emplary, and for some years now has been working to reduce its impact on the environment. Artists with a more eco-responsible approach are favoured, and the equipment is designed to be as energy-efficient as possible.

A veritable tableau vivant, this scenography allowed the public to walk around the square, between works several metres high... there's nothing like it to make you feel very small! To find out more about next year's programme, visit the Fête des Lumières website.

Where to stay in Lyon?

⭐ Maison Nô - Hotel and Rooftop