The Festival of Lights in Lyon (“Fête des Lumières” in French) is the most awaited public event in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and draws several million people onto the illuminated streets of the city.
For locals and tourists alike, this celebration of light unveils the architectural treasures of the city unexpectedly, through the illumination of monuments, streets, hills and river banks.
What is the Festival of Lights in Lyon?
This event is unique in France because of the sheer size of such a task involving the projection of colourful images and videos in various locations all across the city.
Because of the proximity of the date to 25 December and the presence of lights, it is often believed (by non-Lyon natives!) that the Festival of Lights is linked to Christmas.
Its origins are linked to a Catholic celebration of the Virgin Mary, to whom the city of Lyon was devoted during the Middle Ages.
The origins of the Festival of Lights
In 1852, the old square bell of the latter chapel of Fourvière had been rebuilt.
It was decided to crown it with a new statue of the Virgin Mary, overlooking the whole city.
Joseph-Hugues Fabish was the sculptor commissioned to create it, and the initial date of its installation was set as 8 September.
That was the day marking the Nativity of the Virgin.
However, in August, the banks of the River Saône overflowed.
As a result, the worksite where the statue was to be sculpted was flooded.
The Cardinal de Bonald made the decision to postpone the ceremony until 8 December, a date that also celebrated the Immaculate Conception.
The tradition of the 8th of December
On the 8th December, amid the sound of bells and cannons, the bell tower and the statue were blessed during a religious ceremony by the Archbishop of Lyon.
The celebrations also included the plan for a fantastic illumination of the city at night, eagerly awaited by the local population.
However, it poured with rain for the entire day.
Consequently, the religious authorities decided to cancel the night illuminations and celebrations.
Fortunately, in the early evening, the rain stopped.
The people of Lyon were so overjoyed with this unexpected change of weather that they spontaneously aligned thousands of little lights (“des lumignons”, in French) on their windowsills and balconies before taking to the streets.
![Lumignons in Lyon © Myrabella - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lyon-Festival-of-Lights-©-Myrabella-licence-CC-BY-SA-4.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg)
The church leaders followed the excitement of the people and lit up the chapel of Fourvière against the night sky.
This was the first time they ever did so. To this day, this tradition has continued to occur as soon as night falls on 8 December.
The inhabitants of Lyon have collected their sets of lumignons over generations.
Shops around the city of Lyon will also start selling them as soon as November begins.
Lumignons are stained or clear glasses in which candles (often stout and cinnamon-coated) are lit.
Where to Stay in Lyon: My Recommended Hotels
Here is a curated selection of five hotels that I can confidently recommend.
All of them are well located, comfortable, and offer a good base for discovering the city’s squares, museums, markets, and restaurants.
You’ll find a mix of styles: design hotels, classic French elegance, and practical options for families or longer stays.
MHL – Maison Hôtel Lyon (★★★★)
A stylish boutique hotel that blends contemporary design with refined comfort, ideally located for exploring both the Presqu’île and the chic 6th arrondissement.
Address: 10 avenue du Maréchal de Saxe, 6th arrondissement, 69006 Lyon
Pullman Lyon (★★★★)
Modern and comfortable, this centrally located hotel offers spacious rooms and excellent service — a reliable choice for both business travellers and holidaymakers. Close to Part-Dieu station and major transport links.
Address: 14 Place Charles Béraudier, 3rd arrondissement, 69003 Lyon
Hôtel de l’Abbaye Lyon – Boutique Hôtel (★★★★)
A charming boutique property nestled near the historic Ainay district, perfect for a quieter stay while still being within walking distance of major sights and restaurants.
Address: 20 rue de l’abbaye d’Ainay, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
Hôtel des Artistes (★★★)
A comfortable, well-located hotel with a creative, arts-inspired atmosphere. A good mid-range option for visitors who want easy access to the city centre without premium prices.
Address: 8 Rue Gaspard André, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
Hôtel des Célestins (★★★)
A classic, welcoming hotel in the heart of Lyon’s historic centre, just steps from the Rhône and within easy reach of Vieux Lyon and the Presqu’île. Great value for its location.
Address: 4 rue des Archers, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
More places?
To plan your accommodation in Lyon, click on this link for more hotels and places to stay.
The Festival of Lights in Lyon today
The municipality of Lyon’s participation in this event began in 1989. The Festival of Lights has now evolved into a major tourist attraction for the whole Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
The two main stages of the illuminations take place:
on the Basilica of Fourvière and at the Place des Terreaux.
The combination of continuous lighting and video effects, visual arts and creative audio features displays Lyon in a very spectacular way.
![Place des Jacobins, Lyon © Jilibi - licence [CC BY-SA 3.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lyon-Festival-of-Lights-©-Jilibi-licence-CC-BY-SA-3.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg)
A four-day-long festival
Today, the Festival of Lights takes place around 8 December and lasts for four days.
In order to avoid the crowds, it is a good idea to plan your visit for Wednesday or Thursday. The Festival starts on Place Bellecour on 8 December, where the lighting will be turned on.
![General view of Lyon during the festival © Florian Pépellin - licence [CC BY-SA 4.0] from Wikimedia Commons](https://frenchmoments.eu/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Lyon-Festival-of-Lights-02-©-Florian-Pépellin-licence-CC-BY-SA-4.0-from-Wikimedia-Commons.jpg)
The Festival includes over 80 lighting scenes all across the city of Lyon.
During the Festival, there are more than 4 million visitors strolling the streets of Lyon.
Lyon’s lighting plan
The lighting up of Lyon’s famous monuments does not occur only on 8 December.
Like many other tourist towns in France, an ongoing effort is made to reveal the city’s architectural treasures throughout the rest of the year, without spoiling them.
Where to Stay in Lyon: My Recommended Hotels
Here is a curated selection of five hotels that I can confidently recommend.
All of them are well located, comfortable, and offer a good base for discovering the city’s squares, museums, markets, and restaurants.
You’ll find a mix of styles: design hotels, classic French elegance, and practical options for families or longer stays.
MHL – Maison Hôtel Lyon (★★★★)
A stylish boutique hotel that blends contemporary design with refined comfort, ideally located for exploring both the Presqu’île and the chic 6th arrondissement.
Address: 10 avenue du Maréchal de Saxe, 6th arrondissement, 69006 Lyon
Pullman Lyon (★★★★)
Modern and comfortable, this centrally located hotel offers spacious rooms and excellent service — a reliable choice for both business travellers and holidaymakers. Close to Part-Dieu station and major transport links.
Address: 14 Place Charles Béraudier, 3rd arrondissement, 69003 Lyon
Hôtel de l’Abbaye Lyon – Boutique Hôtel (★★★★)
A charming boutique property nestled near the historic Ainay district, perfect for a quieter stay while still being within walking distance of major sights and restaurants.
Address: 20 rue de l’abbaye d’Ainay, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
Hôtel des Artistes (★★★)
A comfortable, well-located hotel with a creative, arts-inspired atmosphere. A good mid-range option for visitors who want easy access to the city centre without premium prices.
Address: 8 Rue Gaspard André, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
Hôtel des Célestins (★★★)
A classic, welcoming hotel in the heart of Lyon’s historic centre, just steps from the Rhône and within easy reach of Vieux Lyon and the Presqu’île. Great value for its location.
Address: 4 rue des Archers, 2nd arrondissement, 69002 Lyon
More places?
To plan your accommodation in Lyon, click on this link for more hotels and places to stay.
Featured image: The Festival of Lights in Lyon. Photo @Chawki via Twenty20
