For six weeks the city of Lausanne serves as a canvas for light sculptures and projections from international artists alongside the traditional Christmas decorations. 

Glowing public benches, illuminated windmills, lanterns, human silhouettes, clouds and animals are just some of the works adorning the walls and rooftops of the Vaud capital on the shores of Lake Geneva. 

The third edition of the Lausanne Lumièresexternal link light festival, which runs from November 21 to December 31, showcases ten established artists from Switzerland, France, Germany and Finland. Many have had their work exhibited in similar festivals around the world, in particular in Lyon and Dubai. 

When set alongside the traditional Christmas decorations, this modern oasis of light takes on a special magical allure. 

The city authorities, who are responsible for the lights, have promised a revamp of the traditional decorations from both an aesthetic and energy perspective. The local energy services claim that the LED light bulbs used in all the displays and decorations will consume the same amount of energy over six weeks as five Lausanne homes use in a year.

Photos: Christoph Balsiger, text: Marc-André Miserez, swissinfo.ch