FETE DE LUMIERES LYON (FESTIVAL OF LIGHT)

WHAT: FÊTE DE LUMIÈRES LYON (FESTIVAL OF LIGHT)
WHY: FESTIVAL OF LIGHT INCLUDING LASERS AND FIREWORKS
WHEN: 5th – 8th DECEMBER 2019
WHERE: ACROSS THE CITY OF LYON AND THE ASSOCIATED DISTRICTS
COST: FREE

Numerous Districts across the beautiful City of Lyon will be brightly lit with colour and imagery during Fete de Lumieres. This is a long weekend of pure magic and unlike Paris, as it is not over-run with visitors, you can saunter around the City and thoroughly enjoy your visit.

From candles to club culture today the event actually started as a religious tradition back in 1852 when following on from a year of social unrest and flooding, the local Catholic Church decided to erect a statue of the Virgin Mary on Fourviere Hill. The date was set for 8^th December 1852 but, the weather continued to threaten the delivery of the statue and the only respite from the rain was late evening so not wanting to delay any further, the locals lit candles in their windows and on balconies across the City in a symbol of solidarity. This tradition has continued to this day and from humble beginnings, a huge event grew. Initially, it was mainly food sellers who lit up and decorated their windows and store fronts but as years passed, this was expanded to the whole of the City, utilising the huge facades of some of Lyon’s historic buildings.

Today’s light show is a very high-tech affair with designers of the light installations from all manner of business from nightclub lighting technicians to huge video backdrops and multimedia shows along with lasers and pyrotechnics.

This is a family event and whilst the weekend is relatively busy, it is not too bad on Thursday and Friday so it will be much easier to get around to all the art pieces scattered around the City.

The frontage of the imposing buildings in the City all have imagery illuminated onto them alongside illuminated walkways, candles, and even the fountains are specially lit with a lot of interactive artworks dotted around for all the family to enjoy and participate in.

So, if you want a weekend packed with lasers, videos and fantastic pyrotechnics get over to France and see for yourself.

Eating out in Lyon is an absolute must. There are restaurants and eateries ranging from the budget range to full-on fine dining to enjoy and surprisingly inexpensive compared to other major cities. La Cabane (The Shack) is a high quality ‘quick eats’ place which does the usual mussels, steaks, chicken, and salads along with numerous ‘dish of the day’ offerings. A lovely little place with a great reputation and although it is clearly a favourite with visitors, the fact that it is also a regular haunt of the locals, is a dead giveaway that is it of superior quality and price.

In the ‘fine dining’ selection, which must be done at least once whilst you are in France, brings you Gourmet delights a plenty. One of the most innovative and inspiring is wholly vegetarian, the chef creates captivating dishes that are pieces of art in themselves taking patrons on a culinary journey of taste, texture, and smell, exciting all the senses. Perfectly paired wines (what else would you expect in France!) this place is a must for gastronomes.

You can also take in a wine tasting tour and pick up a few bottles to have with the family at Christmas whilst you are over there.

A brilliant long weekend in France, taking in all the art, light and culture coupled with pyrotechnics and great food, why wouldn’t you.