Light festivals in the autumn
Foto: Jan Tichy
Lichtrouten, Lüdenscheid, Germany
Lüdenscheid is considered the City of Light. Why? Because at the beginning of the 20th century numerous companies were founded here to manufacture luminaires, including well-known brands such as Erco, Insta and Brilum. To mark the city's 750th anniversary, the Old Town and the places with which Lüdenscheid's history is connected will become locations for art interventions with light.
28 September to 7 October
www.lichtrouten.de
Lights in Alingsås, Sweden
At the end of the 1990s, Swedish students experimented with illuminating public buildings in the centre of Alingsås (Västergötland), and the town near Gothenburg decided to make it an annual event. Consequently, it entered into a collaboration with the international Professional Lighting Designers Association (PLDA). Since then, the PDLA has brought lighting designers and lighting artists from all over the world to Alingsås. Workshops are offered for the professionals, and each evening for the general public there are circular walks through the artistically illuminated town centre of Alingsås.
28 September to 4 November
www.lightsinalingsas.com
Festival of Lights, Berlin, Germany
This year, the Festival of Lights will take place for the 14th time in Berlin, with light used to highlight landmarks, historical sites, streets, squares, trendy districts and interesting places from Berlin's recent history. Most of the illuminations are switched on daily between 7pm and midnight.
5 to 14 October
www.festival-of-lights.de
Light Festival Signal, Prague, Czech Republic
From 11 to 14 October, the historic centre of the Czech capital will be transformed into a synthesis of light and shadow. Where normally historical gas lanterns dimly illuminate the city's narrow alleyways, and the neon signs of the red-light district establishments and amusement arcades shine brightly to attract passers-by, renowned Czech and foreign artists instead present audio-visual installations in public spaces for a period of four days. 11 to 14 October
www.signalfestival.com
Fête des Lumières, Lyon, France
Each year, around four million visitors visit the Lumières in Lyon. It is the largest light art festival in France and one of the most famous in the world. The Lyon Festival of Lights dates back to 1830, when the new bell tower was to be consecrated at the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, which at the time still stood on Mont Fourvière, the city's hill, where the Basilica of Notre Dame stands today, On 8 December of that year, however, a thunderstorm prevented the planned fireworks from taking place, so the city's inhabitants lit thousands of candles in their windows instead. The tradition has continued to this day, and on 8 December people light up their windows with coloured lanterns. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière is the starting point for the processions at the "Fête des Lumières". At the Place des Terreaux in Lyon's Old Town, there are spectacular light shows. In addition, architectural monuments are lit up in different colours throughout the city.
6 to 9 December
www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr
Lüdenscheid is considered the City of Light. Why? Because at the beginning of the 20th century numerous companies were founded here to manufacture luminaires, including well-known brands such as Erco, Insta and Brilum. To mark the city's 750th anniversary, the Old Town and the places with which Lüdenscheid's history is connected will become locations for art interventions with light.
28 September to 7 October
www.lichtrouten.de
Lights in Alingsås, Sweden
At the end of the 1990s, Swedish students experimented with illuminating public buildings in the centre of Alingsås (Västergötland), and the town near Gothenburg decided to make it an annual event. Consequently, it entered into a collaboration with the international Professional Lighting Designers Association (PLDA). Since then, the PDLA has brought lighting designers and lighting artists from all over the world to Alingsås. Workshops are offered for the professionals, and each evening for the general public there are circular walks through the artistically illuminated town centre of Alingsås.
28 September to 4 November
www.lightsinalingsas.com
Festival of Lights, Berlin, Germany
This year, the Festival of Lights will take place for the 14th time in Berlin, with light used to highlight landmarks, historical sites, streets, squares, trendy districts and interesting places from Berlin's recent history. Most of the illuminations are switched on daily between 7pm and midnight.
5 to 14 October
www.festival-of-lights.de
Light Festival Signal, Prague, Czech Republic
From 11 to 14 October, the historic centre of the Czech capital will be transformed into a synthesis of light and shadow. Where normally historical gas lanterns dimly illuminate the city's narrow alleyways, and the neon signs of the red-light district establishments and amusement arcades shine brightly to attract passers-by, renowned Czech and foreign artists instead present audio-visual installations in public spaces for a period of four days. 11 to 14 October
www.signalfestival.com
Fête des Lumières, Lyon, France
Each year, around four million visitors visit the Lumières in Lyon. It is the largest light art festival in France and one of the most famous in the world. The Lyon Festival of Lights dates back to 1830, when the new bell tower was to be consecrated at the Chapel of the Virgin Mary, which at the time still stood on Mont Fourvière, the city's hill, where the Basilica of Notre Dame stands today, On 8 December of that year, however, a thunderstorm prevented the planned fireworks from taking place, so the city's inhabitants lit thousands of candles in their windows instead. The tradition has continued to this day, and on 8 December people light up their windows with coloured lanterns. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Fourvière is the starting point for the processions at the "Fête des Lumières". At the Place des Terreaux in Lyon's Old Town, there are spectacular light shows. In addition, architectural monuments are lit up in different colours throughout the city.
6 to 9 December
www.fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr
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