Monument to the Lumière brothers, Monument in Lyon, France
The Monument aux frères Lumière is a monument in Lyon located near Place Ambroise Courtois in the 8th arrondissement, right at the exit of the Montplaisir-Lumière metro station. The surrounding square features bleachers with painted film scenes and a large white screen used for outdoor screenings.
The monument was inaugurated in 1962, roughly half a century after Louis and Auguste Lumière invented the cinematograph in 1895. It was built in part as a response to the demolition of one of the Lumière villas in the area, which was torn down for a petrol station project that was never built.
In summer, the square around the monument turns into an outdoor cinema where films are shown for free. The painted scenes on the bleachers recall famous moments in film history and give the place a lively character.
The monument is easy to reach on foot directly from the Montplaisir-Lumière metro station exit. Nearby, the Château Lumière houses a cinema museum that makes a good complement to the visit.
The monument was inaugurated in 1962 with a special screening of a film about aviator Lindbergh, creating an unexpected link between cinema history and aviation. March 19 is considered the anniversary of the Lumière brothers' first film shot in 1895 and is still celebrated today.
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