See the city of Lyon illuminated as 150-year-old light festival returns

Lyon’s Fêtes des Lumières kicked off last Wednesday with more than 30 dazzling projections and light installations colouring the city’s historic centre and parks.

One of the largest events on the French tourism calendar, the four-night extravaganza is expected to attract millions of visitors to the city this week in its first edition since the pandemic began.

The origins of the Fêtes des Lumières date back to 1852, when the residents of Lyon lit up their city with candles to thank the Virgin Mary for her protection from the pandemic - not COVID-19, but a cholera outbreak that was sweeping across France in the 19th century.

The 2019 edition of the Fêtes des Lumières saw 2 million people visit the city which has a population of just over 500,000.

To inaugurate a golden statue of Mary overlooking Lyon from the top of Fourvière Hill, on December 8, locals lined their windows with thousands of flickering candles. They started a tradition that continues to light up the city every December to this day.

Consult our source for more details: https://www.euronews.com/travel/2021/12/10/see-the-city-of-lyon-illuminated-as-150-year-old-light-festival-returns

Lyon, Phileppe Mazes