Lyon Lumes large

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

- Sara Keenan

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 motion picture.

And this year, 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 is 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 Lumiere, housed in the original family home of Auguste and Louis Lumiere in the Monplaisir district.

Recently renovated, the museum offers visitors a deep dive into the brothers' inventions and the magic of early film, with original cameras, restored reels, and immersive exhibits capturing the excitement of the dawn of moving pictures.

Across town in the heart of the Presqu'ile district lies the Museum of Cinema and Miniatures, a remarkable collection that pairs thousands of film props with astonishingly detailed miniature sets.