Poetry in motion

SARA KEENAN CELEBRATES THE FRENCH CITY WHERE THE FIRST-EVER MOTION PICTURE WAS MADE 130 YEARS AGO

- 

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.

Exactly 130 years ago, the Lumiere 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 medieval 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 especially 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 Musée Lumiére, housed in the original family home of Auguste and Louis Lumiere 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 moving pictures.