The Festival of Lights is a popular event in Lyon, France. It takes place every year on December 8 to celebrate the life and work of Saint Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters and engineers (and also of fathers!). The festival includes a nighttime tour of the old town and illuminations that shine throughout the city, from buildings to bridges! In 2022, it will be even more spectacular than ever, with brand new installations that will light up your heart during this festive season.
History of the Festival
A church dedicated to the Virgin Mary was built in Fourvière in 1168. It was destroyed during the religious wars between Catholics and Protestants in 1562. Restored, it welcomed the successive vows of the inhabitants and the aldermen in the face of epidemics. On September 8, 1643, the city officials and municipal councillors of the time (the merchant provost and the aldermen) climbed up to Fourvière to ask the Virgin Mary to protect the city from the plague coming from the south of France. They vowed to renew this pilgrimage if Lyon was spared. This vow is still honored on September 8.
A tradition born in the 19th century
In 1850, religious authorities launched a competition for the creation of a statue, intended as a religious symbol at the top of the hill of Fourvière. The sculptor Joseph-Hugues Fabisch created this statue in his workshop on the banks of the Saône. The inauguration initially planned for September 8, 1852, was postponed to December 8 due to a flood of the Saône. On the appointed day, bad weather once again thwarted the festivities: the religious authorities were on the verge of canceling the inauguration. Finally, the sky cleared... Spontaneously, the people of Lyon placed candles in their windows, and as night fell, the entire city was illuminated. The religious authorities followed suit, and the chapel of Fourvière appeared in the night.
That night, a true celebration was born! Every year since then, on December 8, the people of Lyon place small candles in their windows... and roam the streets of the city to admire exceptional light installations. In 1989, the illumination of heritage sites, river and hill landscapes, neighborhoods, and roads dressed up the entire city and contributed to the nocturnal living environment and the beauty of the territory. Since 1999, the Festival of Lights has taken place over a four-day period.
The light of the heart
The Festival of Lights in Lyon is an annual event that brings people together to discover and appreciate the beauty of visual art using light as its main medium. It will take place in Lyon, France, from Thursday, December 8 to Saturday, December 10, from 8pm to midnight, and on Sunday, December 11 from 6pm to 10pm.
Nocturnal tour of the old town
This walk will take you through the old town, with its narrow streets and beautiful buildings. You will have the chance to see the historic Bellecour square, where you can admire the famous statue of Louis XIV on horseback. The tour will then lead you to one of Lyon's churches, the Saint-Jean Cathedral, where you can admire numerous works by one of Lyon's great artists, Marc Chagall. The tour is free and lasts about 2 hours.
The Festival of Lights, a popular event in Lyon
The Festival of Lights is an event organized every year in Lyon and considered one of the most popular cultural events in France. The festival is organized by the City of Lyon and the Greater Lyon Movement. It consists of over 40 light shows throughout the city - including projections on buildings and monuments - as well as concerts, street artists, food stalls, and much more.
The 2022 Festival of Lights will be extraordinary!
The Festival of Lights, a popular event in Lyon. The lights have gone out and the crowd has dispersed, but not before leaving you with a lasting impression of one of the most spectacular light installations in Europe, if not the world. If you couldn't make it this time, don't worry, more luminous events are yet to come!
Michael Zingraf Real Estate Lyon
Official Partner of the 2022 Festival of Lights
