hISTORY
The origins of Lyon's Festival of Lights trace back to 1852, when a golden statue of the Virgin Mary was set to be inaugurated in September. However, flooding along the banks of the Saône delayed the event to December 8. On that day, heavy rains threatened to disrupt the planned town illuminations, but as evening fell and the rain ceased, residents spontaneously placed lanterns on their windowsills.
This act of lighting small lanterns, known as lumignons, has become an enduring tradition, with locals continuing to illuminate their windows each year.
The first official Festival of Lights wasn’t held until 1989, under Mayor Michel Noir’s leadership. That year, the spontaneous tradition expanded with the illumination of select monuments.
In 1999, the Festival of Lights, or Fête des Lumières, transformed into the major winter tourist attraction it is today. The city introduced more lighting animations across numerous monuments, while entertainment professionals began creating vibrant displays in each arrondissement, solidifying the festival as Lyon’s most celebrated event.
