December, 2013 – Graham Miln

A Lick of Paint

Lyon loves murals. There are tens of beautifully painted walls and buildings around the city. Books are published listing the various murals and where to go to see them. The murals are maintained, refreshed, and growing in number.

We enjoy taking our visitors to see some of the murals. Often one or two murals are on the way to our final destination and stopping off to see the murals makes for a fun diversion.

The mural at Espace Guignol has plaques expanding on its history.

The wall in 1986 was bleak.

The wall as it was in 1986
The wall as it was in 1986

The company owning the advertising boards asked for the right to paint the wall. The result is a colourful, eye catching, mural that banishes the once bleak wall to history.

The same wall in 2013
The same wall in 2013

Painted windows

An acute angle helps reveal the skilled artistry
An acute angle helps reveal the skilled artistry

Little details help complete the scene
Little details help complete the scene

Impressively, graffiti is absent. The mural is maintained and appears to be updated every so often. We notice changes in the sponsoring company’s logos, painted shop fronts, and layout every so often. No major changes but tweaks and touch ups here and there.

If you happen to visit Lyon, take the opportunity to ask in the tourist office for a guide or map highlighting the clusters of murals. They are worth seeing.