Every year, the spectacular Fete des Lumieres (Festival of Lights) takes place in the French city of Lyon.<br /><br /> The authorities say they get three to four million people riding the public transportation system over several days and nights.<br /><br /> This year the festival is from 5th-8th December, with more than 70 installations. <br /><br /> The focal points are the Fourviere Basilica and the Place des Terreaux.<br /><br /> The festival has its origins in 1643. Plague was roaming the country, and the story goes that when Lyon dedicated itself to the Virgin Mary the sickness left it.<br /><br /> But it was not until 1852 that the townspeople began lining their windows with candles on the night of December 8th, to say ‘Merci Marie’. <br /><br /> In 1999 the city decided to develop the festival.<br /><br /> Streets are closed off, the downtown core becomes a pedestrians-only area, packed with crowds. <br /><br /> It can get hard to move but the foot traffic is closely managed. In some places, barriers and security wardens move festival-goers along one-way systems. <br /><br /> Hot mulled wine and hot chocolate with chartreuse liqueur are among the drinks sold from street stalls. <br /><br /> Mini-candles (what a contrast to the mechanised, computerised lasers and projections) are for sale in corner stores and supermarkets in the weeks running up to this.
