Lyon, France
Looking across River Saône to the Basilique Notre-Dame de Fourvière in Lyon
Lyon is in the Auvergne Rhône-Alpes region.
Lyon is in the (69) Rhône departement
Map of Lyon in the Rhône
About Lyon
Lyon is in the Rhône department of the Rhone-Alpes region.
In the centre of the Lyon, two large rivers join together as the River Saône empties into the River Rhône. The Rhône then heads southwards to empty into the Mediterranean Sea.
The Roman ruins and early buildings are to be found on the right bank of the Saône. Lugdunum, which was the Roman name for the town began 100 years B.C.
The rivers provided natural commercial trading routes, with access to the Mediterranean in the south to the Northwest of Europe.
The fertile valleys of the rivers allowed important crop farming, the surrounding steep hillsides were ideal for wine production, which the Romans introduced.
The city is of geographical and economical importance, it is now classed as a Metropole, with important infrastructures such as a very modern Metro underground, TGV train lines, international airport and more. Many of the traffic jam problems have been resolved with the construction of autoroute by-passes around the city, plus the underground system and new tramway.
Places to visit are Nôtre Dame de Fourviere perched on top the hill, the Gallo Roman museum and La Part-Dieu, many old cobbled streets with shops in the Vieux Lyon.
Also home to one of France's most important football clubs Olympique Lyon.
Photography
Historian of urban forms and architecture Anne-Sophie Clémençon is a writer and photographer from Lyon, she is also a researcher at the CNRS. Through her photos, Anne-Sophie gives you unique insight into the city.