Photos: Magical images as Lyon launches its 25th Fête des Lumières

The 25th edition of the Fête des Lumières is underway in Lyon featuring spectacular luminous displays on the city’s buildings by artists.

Until December 8, professional light shows and residents’ candles and lamps will light up the city in a festival expected to attract millions of visitors. 

Shows will take place in the evenings with this year’s theme being emotion. There will be 32 in total, with a full programme available here. 

For example, the Gare Saint-Paul will be the canvas for three artists to showcase their creativity and ability to compel emotional reactions from their spectators with a light show. 

On the Quais de Saône, a film named ‘L’enfant lumière’ (the light child) will be projected on the walls, telling the story of a filament lamp eternally shining in a hangar. 

“Young and old, Lyonnais and visitors from elsewhere, get ready for a celebration combining flamboyant works of art and poetic, gentle journeys!” states the mairie de Lyon on its website. 

Here you can see BFM Lyon’s video report of the return of the little giant of the place des Terreaux. 

Here you can see other examples of the amazing light shows on display. 

The history of the event 

The festival dates back to 1852. A statue of the Virgin Mary was due to be erected on Fourvière Hill in Lyon on September 8, 1852, but it was delayed to December 8 to coincide with the Feast of the Immaculate Conception.

Due to more bad weather, the statue was not put up. Instead, the people of Lyon decided to place lit candles on windowsills in the evening in solidarity, lighting up the city. The tradition on December 8 has continued ever since.