Lyon’s magical Festival of Lights

08/12/10 18:35 CET

le mag

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A magical light show is transforming a French city for the next few nights, bringing visitors in from all over the world.

Buildings and monuments are lit up in Lyon at this time each year in an event with religious roots that is now a hi-tech extravaganza.

Patrice Warrener, one of the key light artists behind the four-day spectacle, explained to euronews that since the tradition has developed, Lyon had become the world capital for lighting engineers and effects.

“It is undeniable and it is forever,” he said.

You name it and a creative type has thought of it, with all manner of colourful displays to brighten up the dark winter nights ahead.

Lyon’s light tradition began back in the 1850s. That was when inhabitants used candles to light up buildings during the inauguration of a statue of the Virgin Mary.

More about: Festival, Lyon

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