Poetry in motion

LYON may be France's third-largest city but when it comes to culture, it stands second only to Paris - and in the world of cinema, it holds the number one spot.

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Exactly 130 years ago, the Lumi ere brothers filmed La Sortie de l'Usine Lumiere a Lyon (Employees Leaving the Lumiere Factory), widely regarded as the first-ever motion picture. In 2025, the city is proudly celebrating this cinematic milestone with festivals, exhibitions and a renewed focus on its cultural heritage.

From street murals to Roman ruins, modernist museums to medi eval alleyways, Lyon blends its rich past with a forward-thinking spirit. And while it has long been synonymous with fine food and gastronomy, this year, it's culture - and espe cially cinema - that's taking centre stage.

The anniversary of the birth of cinema has been marked across Lyon with special events. Central to the celebrations is the Musee Lumi ere, housed in the origi nal family home of Auguste and Louis Lum iere in the Monplaisir district.

Recently renovated, the museum offers a deep dive into the brothers' inventions and the magic of early film, with cameras, restored reels and immersive exhibits that capture the excitement of the dawn of mov ing pictures.