Lyon is one of the most significant cities in France. It is its business and industrial center which takes third place in the population size. The town is situated in the east-central part of the country on the banks of two picturesque rivers — the Rhône and Saône. This city was the birthplace of such Roman rulers as Tiberius, Claudius, and Caracalla, the fathers of cinematography Auguste and Louis Lumière, the author of “The Little Prince” Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. Every street and every house have a history it keeps. Not without a reason, the old part of Lyon was proclaimed to be the UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1998. The city is also famous for haute cuisine and many people consider it to be the culinary capital of France.
Lyon is one of the three cities in France whose territory is divided into districts called arrondissements. The majority of 9 arrondissements is divided into quarters. In total, there are 31 of them. Fourviere and Terreaux are the best accommodation options for the tourists in the center. For people who prefer a quiet and measured lifestyle, we recommend the arrondissement called Brotteaux. It should be mentioned that Lyon is not a cheap city. There are almost no budget hotels here. Therefore, consider booking a room in tourist districts in advance.
The Astronomic clock of the Lyon Cathedral, the marvelous Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, and the overall spirit of Renaissance turn Lyon into a popular tourist destination point.
Initially, the Romans and Gauls inhabited this territory. After the formation of the Kingdom of the Burgundians, Lyon became the center of the German occupation army and the French Resistance in the south. All the citizens of France can be divided into such groups: south-European, north-European, and central-European. The majority of the ethnic composition includes the French, Italians, Arabs, and Armenians.
Ancient Romans founded Lyon back in 43 BC on Fourvière hill and called it Lugdunum (in the name of the Celtic god Lugus which translates as “light” and dunon which means a “hill”). The favorable location allowed the city to become the capital of Gallia: wealthy, loud, and densely populated. In 197, a fight between Clodius Albinus and Septimius Severus took place by its walls. As a result of this battle, the city was burnt to ashes. After that, the reins of power were taken over by the cities of Arles and Trier.
The Golden Age of the city started in 461, after the foundation of the Kingdom of the Burgundians and the proclamation of Lyon the capital. In 1307, the city became part of France. In the XVI century, by the order of Francis I of France, Lyon hosted numerous fairs which attracted traders from all over the world. During the Renaissance, the silk trading started in Lyon and is still popular nowadays.
The city had always been exposed to destruction during various revolution and wars. Fortunately, it had always risen from the ashes, and today pleases its citizens and visitors with the surviving unique monuments, cascades of iridescent buildings, shadowy parks with millions of roses, houses and streets which date back to the Renaissance, and the lively waterfront.