A great reason to go to Lyon this December - la Fête des Lumières

The origins of this spectacular festival date back to 1643 when plague descended on Lyon. According to legend, the town councillors promised to pay tribute to Mary if the town was spared, which it was, and ever since, a procession made its way to the Basilica of Fourvière on this day to light candles and give offerings in the name of Mary.

It wasn’t until mid way through the 19th century though, that this morphed into a recognised and popular festival. Church leaders launched a competition for a statue to be realized as religious symbol at the top of the Fourvière hill. One year later Lyonnais sculptor Fabisch won the competition, and after a couple of prior setbacks, the entire city was illuminated on the 12th December. Celebrations took place in the streets and the Chapel of Fourvière was lit up against the night sky.

As part of this tradition so unique to Lyon, every house place candles along the outsides of all the windows to produce a spectacular effect throughout the streets. The four-day festival attracts 4 million visitors each year and sees Lyon’s finest buildings illuminated with fantastic lights, shows and music; the two main focal points of activity are typically the Basilica of Fourvière which is lit up in different colours, and the Place des Terreaux, which hosts a different light show each year.

Cactus’ Neil Stawarz spent a year in Lyon as part of his degree, and says of this fantastic festival:

“After being brought up on shoddy light shows in the form of watching damp fireworks limp their way into the freezing night sky on a wet November 5th somewhere near Chesterfield, the Fête des Lumières really opened my eyes to what a light show should be like. Throughout all the many squares of Lyon different, and sometimes disorientating, light shows draw you in and keep you transfixed throughout the evening and the main performance at the Place des Terreaux was literally amazing. I spent many hours wandering through the streets of the Presqu-Ile and vieux Lyon, glass of wine in my hand watching the fantastic entertainment laid on by the Lyonnais…it is just a shame they didn’t have any bonfire toffee.”

This event is a truly unique and spectacular one to witness, and will show you a side of France’s ‘Gastronomic Capital’ that you have never seen before. As with any festival in France, there will be food and drink a –plenty, so you will also have ample chance to test out the city’s reputation for this too…

Cactus offers General, Intensive and Individual French courses in Lyon at a variety of levels, and with a range of accommodation options. Visit the Cactus Language site to find out more.