Introducation of Lyon

Lyon is a city in east central France. Location: 45°46′1?N, 4°50′3?E. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, with 1,648,216 inhabitants at the 1999 census, and approximately the 20th to 25th largest metropolitan area of Western Europe.

Lyon is the capital of the Rhône-Alpes region, and the prefecture (capital) of the Rhône departement. The city gave its name to the Lyonnais province, of which it was the capital. Today the region around Lyon is still known as Lyonnais (French: le Lyonnais), or sometimes even as the Lyonnaise Region (French: Region Lyonnaise). Lyonnaise Region is an unofficial, popular name, not to be confused with the administrative region of Rhône-Alpes, which is much larger than the Lyonnaise Region.

Lyon is also the international headquarters of interpol.in December 1998, Lyon became one of only a few urban centers on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city’s major asset resides in the way that
it has developed, enabling each of its districts to conserve their own distinctive architectural hallmarks. As a city, Lyon is characterized by contrasts in its setting, between its two hills - the Fourvière and Croix-Rousse - and between its two rivers - the Rhone and the Sâone. Lyon also demonstrates its mixed heritage, by displaying traits of a typical northern French town in some areas, while other features bear witness to its Latin heritage.

The city’s history begins on Fourvière Hill, where vestiges of the original Roman city are still evident. The Romans named Lyon Lugdunum, meaning the ‘city of light’. This tradition continues to the present day - every evening throughout the year, more than one hundred sites throughout the city are lit up to show the splendor of Lyon’s architecture.

The best way for one to fully appreciate two millennia of Lyon’s historical heritage is on foot. The sunny and temperate weather lends itself to strolling through the streets, appreciating the architectural splendor of the city. Walking around, the visitor passes through a number of historical eras, from Fourvière Hill and its Roman settlement to evidence of Lyon’s power in the Gallo-Roman period. Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) contains the largest display of Renaissance architecture in France, which dates back to the end of the 15th century, when it became an important and wealthy trade center, famous for its fairs and its silk industry. Strolling around Lyon is the only way for visitors to discover and enjoy an authentic local feature, the traboules. These covered passageways were created during the Renaissance, initially as short cuts, although they later became escape routes for the French resistance during World War ii.

Lyon is a gourmet’s paradise. With the exception of Paris, the city boasts the largest number of Michelin-starred restaurants and famous chefs in the whole of France. One simply has to remember that Lyon is the home of Paul Bocuse and his famous restaurant to appreciate the quality of cuisine available. For a less sophisticated atmosphere, visitors can also sample the simple delights of a bouchon, a small picturesque restaurant specializing in local delicacies.

This intermingling of the history and architecture of the past with the cultural and gastronomic delights of the present combine to make Lyon far more than just another milestone on the way to the Mediterranean but a city worth a visit in its own right.