The 2022 edition of the Festival of Lights was inaugurated on Monday 7 November. Credit: Muriel Chaulet – City of Lyon
Lyon is preparing to live to the rhythm of the Festival of Lights and its nearly 500,000 visitors every evening from 8 December. Enough to frighten the boldest Lyonnais. However, there’s a little secret to enjoying the illuminations before the race…
Every year, as December 8 approaches, the same phrases come out in the mouths of many Lyonnais: “too many people“,”impracticable“,”for the Festival of Lights I leave Lyon“. Not necessarily tired of the event that makes Lyon shine internationally, the inhabitants are rather tired of the crowds of tourists that have invaded the peninsula for four days. Stuck in the middle of the Place des Terreaux, in the alleys of Old Lyon or in the Place There really is enough Saint-Jean to become agoraphobic.
Read also:
General repetition
Before locking yourself up at home if you want to avoid the approximately 500,000 visitors expected every evening from 8 December, we’ll reveal our little secret, certainly less and less well-kept, for enjoying the illuminations without the crowds of big evenings. This Wednesday evening, on the eve of the official launch of the Festival of Lights, it’s time for dress rehearsals for most of the artists.
It is thus possible to stroll from the streets of the Presqu’île to the Tête d’Or park to admire some works if you fall at the right time. Staying sufficiently in the same industry can also be a good option. The other possibility, if you’re lucky, is to run into the procession of journalists who will present a preview of the Festival of Lights this evening. It is therefore possible to enjoy the show in its entirety.
Our second, more classic tip is to wait until the last day of the Festival of Lights. Considered the day of the Lyonnais, Sunday is often quieter and allows you to enjoy your work better.
Prepare your route with our interactive Festival of Lights map:
In total, 30 works will illuminate the capital of Gaul, they will be observable:
- from 20:00 to 00:00 from 8 to 10 December (Thursday, Friday, Saturday).
- from 18:00 to 22:00 on Sunday 11 December.
- from 5.30pm to 9.30pm from 8 to 11 December for the illuminations of Parc Blandan and the Institut Lumière.
