Fête des Lumières: Lyon glows for four nights

For four nights around 8 December, the Fête des Lumières turns Lyon into a giant open-air light show. Facades, squares and parks become canvases for projections and installations, while locals keep the old tradition of candles on their windowsills.

Fun facts

• The festival dates from 8 December 1852, when residents lit candles to honour a new statue of the Virgin Mary at Fourvière.
• Lyon families still place small candles in glass, called lumignons, on their windowsills.
• Lyon's historic centre is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

What to see

• Projections on the facades around Place des Terreaux.
• The illuminated Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière above the city.
• Light installations in Vieux Lyon and the Parc de la Tête d'Or.

What to taste

• Quenelles, light dumplings in a creamy crayfish sauce.
• Saucisson brioché, a Lyon sausage baked inside soft brioche.
• Tarte aux pralines, a bright pink tart made with sugared almonds.

What to do

• Eat a traditional dinner in a Lyon bouchon.
• Walk or take the funicular up to Fourvière for views over the city.
• Explore the traboules, hidden passages between buildings in Vieux Lyon and Croix-Rousse.

💡 Tip: The Rhônexpress tram links Lyon airport with Part-Dieu in about 30 minutes. Some metro stations close during the busiest hours, so wear comfortable shoes and expect to walk.