Architecture Events in Lyon
Rocalia
Rocalia: The Premier Fair for Natural Stone Professionals in France
Every two years, in the heart of France, professionals from the natural stone industry gather to celebrate innovation, tradition, and craftsmanship at the Rocalia fair. Dedicated exclusively to the world of natural stone, Rocalia serves as the only major trade show in France that brings together stone experts, designers, architects, and builders who share a passion for this timeless material.
Held simultaneously with Paysalia, the renowned garden and landscaping fair, Rocalia is organized by GL Events Exhibitions Operations in collaboration with Pierre Actual, a leading publication in the field. Together, these two events form a powerful professional meeting point for the intersecting worlds of building, landscaping, and ornamental rock applications.
Who Should Attend Rocalia? A Meeting Place for Stone Visionaries
Rocalia is not for the casual observer. This event was created specifically for those who work with stone in meaningful, creative, or structural ways. Whether you are crafting intricate carvings, designing facades, restoring historical monuments, or integrating natural stone into modern interior Rocalia speaks your language.
The fair caters to a wide range of professions, including:
Quarry operators and stone producers
Architects and urban planners
Restoration experts and conservators
Stone masons and installers
Landscape designers and garden architects
Interior designers using natural stone for luxury finishes
Students and educators in stone-related disciplines
For those involved in specifying, sourcing, working with, or showcasing natural stone in construction, design, or restoration, Rocalia is the professional epicenter.
A Rich and Targeted Exhibition Experience
In the most recent edition, nearly 30,000 visitors came to explore what 148 exhibitors had to offer. The products and services on display span the full breadth of the natural stone industry, from raw materials to finished elements, from tools and machinery to restoration techniques.
Exhibitors present solutions and innovations across sectors such as:
Ornamental and construction stone
Machinery and tooling for stone cutting and processing
Stone finishes, treatments, and maintenance
Training and recruitment in the stone sector
Software and digital tools for stone design and production
Rocalia Forum: Shaping the Future of Natural Stone
Beyond the exhibition floor, the Rocalia Forum provides a platform for knowledge exchange and future-forward thinking. This is where experts gather for conferences, debates, and round tables on the current challenges and opportunities in the stone industry.
Topics typically span from sustainability and responsible quarrying, to technological advances in processing, to preservation of heritage sites using local materials. It is a unique moment when tradition and innovation sit at the same table, building bridges between centuries-old craftsmanship and contemporary demands.
Celebrating Excellence in Stone Construction
One of the most anticipated moments of the fair is the Natural Stone Award, titled "Construire en Pierre Naturelle au XXIe siècle" (Building in Natural Stone in the 21st Century). This prestigious recognition is co-organized by SNROC (the French Natural Stone Association) and Pierre Actual magazine.
It rewards recently completed architectural and construction projects that feature outstanding use of natural French stone. The award does more than recognize beauty it celebrates ingenuity, sustainability, and the ability of stone to endure and inspire in modern architecture.
Past winners have included projects such as:
Public buildings with bold stone facades
Restored monuments using traditional French stone
Contemporary homes that blend ancient material with modern design
Landscape architecture that redefines natural integration
The award not only showcases talent but also promotes the economic and cultural value of regional stone.
Supporting the Future: Training and Career Opportunities
Another major feature of Rocalia is the Village of Jobs and Training, which highlights the wealth of career paths available within the stone sector. This area provides:
Demonstrations of stone-cutting and carving techniques
Information on educational programs and apprenticeships
Networking with institutions and schools specializing in stone crafts
With increasing interest from young people in artisan trades and sustainable building practices, the Village is a space where skills are passed from master to apprentice, ensuring the continuity of a noble craft.
Going Digital: Enhancing Networking and Engagement
Understanding that trade fairs today extend beyond physical space, Rocalia has invested in a digital platform and companion app to allow visitors and exhibitors to stay connected during and long after the event. These tools are designed to:
Help professionals find and connect with relevant contacts
Enable scheduling of one-on-one meetings
Provide access to session recordings and speaker materials
Facilitate real-time updates and product showcases
In a post-pandemic world, these digital extensions make Rocalia more than a three-day event it becomes a year-round community hub.
A Timeless Material for a Sustainable Future
Natural stone, often perceived as a material of the past, is increasingly recognized as a sustainable, long-lasting, and locally sourced alternative in contemporary building. Its ability to age beautifully, endure harsh environments, and require minimal maintenance makes it ideal for an eco-conscious era.
Rocalia celebrates this duality stone as both heritage and innovation. Whether used in bold contemporary forms or as part of historical restoration, it remains a core material in expressing human creativity and structural integrity.
Why Rocalia is More Relevant Than Ever
As environmental pressures reshape construction practices and architectural philosophies, natural stone emerges as a material of the future not just the past. Rocalia stands at this critical junction, offering a place to explore, celebrate, and evolve the role of stone in our built world.
Whether you are preserving a centuries-old cathedral, designing a minimalist stone kitchen, or pioneering digital fabrication in stone, Rocalia welcomes you. It’s where experience meets curiosity, and where the soul of stone finds its next generation of storytellers.
Piscine Global Europe
Piscine Global Europe: The World’s Leading Trade Fair for the Swimming Pool and Wellness Sector
Every two years, the international swimming pool and wellness community converges in Lyon, France, for a standout event that continues to shape the industry’s future Piscine Global Europe. Since its inception in 1979, this international trade show has grown in both scope and scale, becoming the largest and most influential gathering of professionals in the pool, spa, and wellness sectors.
Whether you're a pool builder, architect, designer, distributor, manufacturer, or public sector planner, Piscine Global Europe offers a comprehensive overview of the market, cutting-edge innovations, and invaluable networking opportunities.
In 2025, the event returns to Eurexpo Lyon from November 13th to 16th, promising another unmissable edition with over 24,000 attendees expected across the three-day exhibition.
A Legacy of Leadership in the Swimming Pool Industry
With more than four decades of history, Piscine Global Europe has firmly established itself as a cornerstone of the international pool and wellness ecosystem. The show isn’t just a marketplace it's a platform for discovery, business, and inspiration.
Looking back at previous editions helps put its impact into perspective. At the 2016 edition, for example, the event welcomed:
17,876 visitors
596 exhibitors
1276 brands represented
100 journalists in attendance
82 new products unveiled
This steady growth reflects a global demand for aquatic wellness experiences spanning private, commercial, and public applications and an ever-increasing push toward technology, sustainability, and user comfort.
What Makes Piscine Global Europe Unique?
There’s no shortage of trade fairs in the construction, wellness, or lifestyle sectors. But Piscine Global Europe stands out because of its razor-sharp focus and broad international reach. It seamlessly merges:
Technical excellence
Design aesthetics
Sustainable practices
Health and wellness trends
Innovation in automation and smart control
Attendees don’t just come to browse they come to build relationships, close deals, and shape the future of the swimming pool and wellness industries.
A Comprehensive Range of Exhibits and Sectors
One of the strongest features of Piscine Global Europe is its well-organized, comprehensive layout. The exhibition space is divided into thematic zones that allow attendees to navigate effortlessly and focus on their specific areas of interest.
Major product categories include:
Construction and Installation (liners, tiles, decking, pool structures)
Water Treatment and Filtration (pumps, filters, chemical dosing)
Maintenance Equipment (cleaners, covers, automation systems)
Wellness and Spa (saunas, hammams, hot tubs, massage jets)
Outdoor Living and Landscaping (garden furniture, lighting, decor)
Smart Pools and IoT (connected devices, energy efficiency tools)
Services and Software (design tools, CRM, after-sales solutions)
This vast offering ensures that every segment of the pool and wellness value chain is represented.
Why Should You Attend Piscine Global Europe 2025?
For businesses in the pool and wellness sectors, attending Piscine Global Europe is not just a smart decision it’s a strategic move. Whether you’re launching a new product, scouting for distributors, researching trends, or looking to grow internationally, the fair provides a powerful platform.
Here are five key reasons to attend:
Meet Global Decision-Makers
The event gathers thousands of high-quality visitors, including purchasing directors, hotel developers, architects, and municipal representatives.
Spot Industry Trends
Stay ahead of the curve with live product demos, tech showcases, and innovation awards.
Boost Your Brand Visibility
With media coverage and a concentrated professional audience, your brand is seen by exactly the right people.
Connect with Suppliers and Clients
Face-to-face meetings speed up the decision-making process and foster long-term trust.
Access to Expert Insight and Training
Conferences, masterclasses, and roundtables give you access to industry-leading knowledge and case studies.
The Pool Innovation Awards: Celebrating Excellence
One of the most anticipated elements of the event is the Pool Innovation Awards, which shine a spotlight on the most forward-thinking and impactful new products in the sector. These awards recognize innovation in sustainability, user experience, technical design, and automation.
Past winners have included:
Eco-friendly filtration systems
AI-powered pool robots
Solar heating systems
Modular spa units
Advanced water quality monitoring tools
The awards not only boost the visibility of winning products but also serve as a barometer for where the industry is heading.
A Truly International Event with Global Reach
While the event is hosted in France, Piscine Global Europe is unmistakably international. Exhibitors and visitors come from over 100 countries, including:
Germany
Italy
Spain
United States
United Arab Emirates
Australia
Brazil
China
This international dimension makes it an ideal place for export-oriented companies and for those looking to expand their supply chain globally.
For startups and small businesses, it provides a chance to scale up by forming international partnerships, while larger corporations use the event to reinforce brand presence and stay ahead of regional trends.
Piscine Global Academy: Learning from the Best
Beyond its exhibition floors, Piscine Global Europe also serves as a learning hub through its Piscine Global Academy. This feature offers:
Workshops on pool design and maintenance
Talks on sustainability in aquatic architecture
Panel discussions with engineers and municipal planners
Training on digital tools and remote monitoring systems
These sessions are often CE-accredited, giving professionals an added incentive to participate while earning recognition for continued education.
Wellness Is the Future: Spotlight on Spas and Relaxation
An exciting and fast-growing part of Piscine Global Europe is its dedicated wellness section. As public interest in wellness continues to rise, spa solutions are evolving into more refined, luxurious, and high-tech experiences.
Here you’ll discover:
Compact spa modules for residential homes
Wellness suites for hotels and resorts
Salt therapy and hydrotherapy products
Energy-efficient steam room systems
Water massage and chromotherapy solutions
Wellness isn't just a luxury it's a business opportunity. And Piscine Global Europe helps position brands at the intersection of well-being, innovation, and design.
Why Piscine Global Europe Is More Relevant Than Ever
As trends like smart homes, eco-conscious design, and wellness-focused lifestyles continue to rise, the swimming pool and spa industries are entering a new era. Piscine Global Europe is not only keeping pace it’s leading the way.
Whether you're an innovator ready to unveil the next big product, a public official planning a municipal aquatic center, or a hotel developer seeking spa solutions, Piscine Global Europe 2025 is the place to connect, learn, and grow.
