It's Christmastime in the City

Each year, Lyon, the second largest city in France, hosts the largest Festival of Lights in France. Known by the natives as the Fête des Lumières, the entire city is decked out in light displays as well as “animations,” or live, interactive projections based around different themes. Originally, the Fête was started as a way to thank the Virgin Mary for appearing in Lyon and saving the city from being ravaged by the Plague. Each year after this vision, the inhabitants of Lyon would put a candle in each window as a show of thanks, so that the tiny fires lighted the entire city. They even wrote the words “Merci Marie” in light on the hill overlooking the city (think Hollywood sign but more medieval and less glitz-and-glam). Naturally, the commercialization of such a tradition was inevitable; so a few years ago the entire thing became a spectacle of technology and tourism, attracting visitors from across the country for this one weekend in December but still maintaining its festive and charming roots.

Being a Christmas buff and not able to put up many of my own decorations this year, it was a given that I had to make it to the Fête. As most travels in France begin, I found myself at the train station one Saturday morning with a few friends, bags packed and tickets in hand. We arrived in Lyon around noon only to find that, surprise surprise, there was a grève. For those of you who don’t remember, that means a strike. For those of you who do remember, you might be worrying. Don’t. Just another day in France. As we would say here, “pas de soucis” (no worries). Of course the only metro line that was on strike was the one we needed, so we found a combo of buses to get us to the apartment of the French friend we were staying with. Once there, we were off to explore.

Lyon is split into three quartiers by its two rivers: the Rhône and the Saône. The eastern most section is the more modern area known as Part-Dieu. Between the two rivers lies the Presque-Île, or the “Almost Island”. To the west sits Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) and the Fourvière hill that overlooks the rest of the city (in this case, my “highest point”). I can’t do the Fête justice by describing it with words, so I’ll highlight some of my favorite parts and direct everyone to the pictures below and my Picasa photo account to check out the full experience.

Le Marché de Noël (Christmas Market)- an essential of any French city’s Christmas celebrations.

La Fourvière- seeing the city from above was amazing, especially on the first night of the Fête. Here, you can see the giant Ferris wheel, two rivers, and various other light displays below.

The light buoys in the Rhône- these flickered the entire night after dark and lit up one of the prettiest parts of the river.

The food and drink- From the mulled wine to the baked potatoes stuffed with goat cheese and peppers to the bouchon Lyonnais with typical Lyonnais dishes, we were without a doubt well fed on this trip.

To check out the rest of my Fête de Lumbers pictures, go to www.picasaweb.google.com/johncmcgowan.

Joyeux Noël et très bonnes fêtes à tout le monde! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!