December 8, 2009
(France)- The Festival of Lights, held December 5-8, remains Lyon’s most celebrated and well-loved event. It is as a unique European event, and over the last 5 years it has attracted more than 4 million visitors, both French and foreign. For 4 days, the city of Lyon hosts a unique world event when the city streets are brought to light as shop owners and businesses decorate their windows, major tourist sites and monuments become "alive" and illuminated, and residents align their windowsills with candles. These illuminations accompanied with music and shows give the city an almost surreal atmosphere.XXX
XXXThis remarkable event holds an honorary place in Lyon’s events calendar. During the festival, "Les Rencontres de la Lumière" is the opportunity for urban light specialists from all around the world to come together. In the form of round table discussions or international conferences, these professionals devise new plans and ideas for urban lighting architecture in order to breathe new life into the city’s nocturnal landscape.
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XXXThis 8th December tradition began more than 150 years ago. In 1852, restoration works were taking place at the Fourvière bell tower. On the proposed date of installation the sculptor Fabisch had failed to complete the golden statue of the Virgin Mary, due to be installed on top of the bell top tower. As a result, the religious authorities decided to postpone the unveiling ceremony to the 8th December, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. On the day of the inauguration, the statue’s unveiling was welcomed by bell chimes and military salutes. Through the heavy rain Lyon’s archbishop blessed the installation of the new statue; however, due to the bad weather the planned illuminations were cancelled. As night fell, the weather grew calm… Spontaneously the residents of Lyon aligned their windowsills with thousands of candles. At Fourvière, this clear display of enthusiasm washed away all hesitations and concerns and before long the bell tower and the statue lit up the night’s sky. Ever since that day, this tradition has been kept and respected by Lyon’s residents.
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XXXIn 1989, the city of Lyon launched the ‘Light Plan’, artistic and aesthetic illuminations of more than 200 buildings and public places like l’Hôtel de Ville (town hall), Hôtel Dieu (hospital), universities, bridges, Parc de Gerland, etc. These illuminations have changed the city’s image, creating a real tourist attraction. The city’s light plan combines tradition and innovation, making the city a world reference in this field. The new Light Plan current being worked out aims to promote and encourage further creation and new inventions, integrate new technical possibilities, to make better use of the lights concerning social and urban development and all this to be done in the respect of the environment. (from en.lyon-france.com)
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XXXThis remarkable event holds an honorary place in Lyon’s events calendar. During the festival, "Les Rencontres de la Lumière" is the opportunity for urban light specialists from all around the world to come together. In the form of round table discussions or international conferences, these professionals devise new plans and ideas for urban lighting architecture in order to breathe new life into the city’s nocturnal landscape.
XXX
XXXThis 8th December tradition began more than 150 years ago. In 1852, restoration works were taking place at the Fourvière bell tower. On the proposed date of installation the sculptor Fabisch had failed to complete the golden statue of the Virgin Mary, due to be installed on top of the bell top tower. As a result, the religious authorities decided to postpone the unveiling ceremony to the 8th December, the celebration of the Immaculate Conception. On the day of the inauguration, the statue’s unveiling was welcomed by bell chimes and military salutes. Through the heavy rain Lyon’s archbishop blessed the installation of the new statue; however, due to the bad weather the planned illuminations were cancelled. As night fell, the weather grew calm… Spontaneously the residents of Lyon aligned their windowsills with thousands of candles. At Fourvière, this clear display of enthusiasm washed away all hesitations and concerns and before long the bell tower and the statue lit up the night’s sky. Ever since that day, this tradition has been kept and respected by Lyon’s residents.
XXX
XXXIn 1989, the city of Lyon launched the ‘Light Plan’, artistic and aesthetic illuminations of more than 200 buildings and public places like l’Hôtel de Ville (town hall), Hôtel Dieu (hospital), universities, bridges, Parc de Gerland, etc. These illuminations have changed the city’s image, creating a real tourist attraction. The city’s light plan combines tradition and innovation, making the city a world reference in this field. The new Light Plan current being worked out aims to promote and encourage further creation and new inventions, integrate new technical possibilities, to make better use of the lights concerning social and urban development and all this to be done in the respect of the environment. (from en.lyon-france.com)
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