Lilu 2022 – a unique light spectacle

The Lilu Light Festival started in Lucerne on Thursday, 6 January, and will continue up to Saturday 16 January. It offers more than one highlight and offers some innovations this year.

Light. Colours. Music. Who doesn't need that in this dark January and during this pandemic? And that's exactly what the Lilu Light Festival offers, which is taking place in Lucerne for the third time this year, from 6 to 16 January, after a one-year break. Artists from all over the world are presenting the diverse and fascinating facets of light. You can discover creative light installations on a heart-warming winter walk and experience an attractive supporting programme for all the senses.

For eleven days, the squares, sights and alleys in the city of Lucerne will be artistically illuminated from 6 to 10 p.m. every day.The tour of the 21 light installations, which starts at the arch by Lucerne railway station and ends at the Villa Schweizerhof on the Haldenstrasse, is free of charge and does not require a ticket, , and can be walked around independently in about two hours.

The tour offers 21 stations, and it is best to wrap up warmly. But you can also come across many other works of art during an evening stroll through the city centre:

There is, for example, the water tower - this time performed by the Portuguese studio Ocubo - on which the adventures of the little Swiss fish Luc can be followed. He not only encounters dangers, but also sees some of Lucerne's sights, such as the Lion Monument. The latter is also a stop on the tour: in the interactive installation "Concrete Jungle" by Nachtlicht & Fusion.Robot, the lion can feel like it is again in its ancestral habitat.

It has to be said that a visit to the festival, whose budget is around CHF 1.3 million, is worthwhile. Because the light art does exactly what it is supposed to do – in the words of Tourism Director Marcel Perren: "The Lilu should give people pleasure."

Light show in the St. Peter’s church
Have you ever been immersed in a sea of colours? This is possible behind the Hotel Schweizerhof.
The Lilu light installation at Kurplatz.
Fish Luc with his shoal on the water tower.
The Lucerne lion dreams of the jungle.
Not only birds, but also ships can be seen on St. Peter's Chapel.
Interesting walks around the old town
Pictures: Patrick Hürlimann, Lucerne

Animation by Lucerne students
Animals are also the protagonists of the animation "Der Vögel täglich Brot (The Birds' Daily Bread)" on the walls of St. Peter's Chapel, lovingly designed by three students from the Lucerne University of Applied Sciences and Arts – Design & Art, with a specialisation in animation, together with a student of film and media composition from the Zurich University of the Arts (Zürcher Hochschule der Künste). The audience experiences the journey of a loaf of bread that is grabbed by a bird and for which a fierce battle is fought between birds of various species. The cartoon plays with the architecture of the chapel, giving it a three-dimensional look.

There are also installations inside buildings, including the Meilihalle and St. Peter's Chapel, and there will also be a light show in the Casineum for the first time. The audiovisual artist collective Vertigo from Copenhagen usually stages church interiors. The “Refrakto” light show, which combines light installation with laser mapping and music by the composer duo Den Sorte Skole, was built especially for the Lilu. Ideally – according to one of the artists – you fall into a kind of trance during the show. The chance for this is greatest at the shows, including live concerts. on 14 and 15 January at 10.30 pm, which last not only 15, but a whole 90 minutes.

Famous churches in the Hofkirche
The light show in the Hofkirche, which has been created for the third time by the collective Projektil, is also a highlight. After showing the origin of the world and man in the first two years, "Wonders" now deals with man-made masterpieces: churches and places of worship from all over the world. It plays with architectural elements, magnificent paintings and colourful windows. You can see, for example, the paintings of the Sistine Chapel, the round arches of the Mezquita in Córdoba or the onion domes of St. Basil's Cathedral in Moscow.

Due to the continued presence of the Corona virus, there is a 2G certificate requirement for the indoor displays. You are also recommended to use public transportt to reach Lucerne - thanks to a cooperation with SBB Railaway, increased quotas of reduced-price ticket are available on selected routes with destination Lucerne on the two Lilu weekends. These are not linked to Lilu event tickets.