Résumé en anglais
This issue contains the proceedings of the symposium held in Rouen, France, on March 23-24 1990. The genesis, birth, intrinsic qualities of lighting of towns and countries are highlighted in the first part of this analysis. The diversity and remarkable development of lights are also examined in comaprison with the situation duraing two World Wars. The same goes for their aesthetic issues and psychologic dimension. Public lighting in Québec, Poland, Norway and Italy then the floodlighting in Geneva, Hungary, Paris, Montpellier is studied in the second part of the issue.