Lyon

Lyon, also Lyons, city in east central France, capital of Rhône Department, at the confluence of the navigable Rhône and the Saône rivers. Lyon is the third largest city in France, after Paris and Marseille, and has a metropolitan area second only to Paris in size and economic importance. Diversified manufactures include machinery, motor vehicles, electrical equipment, chemicals, and textiles; large petroleum refineries are in nearby Saint-Fons and Feyzin. The University of Lyon (1808) now consists of three separate campuses: the University Claude-Bernard, or Lyon I (1970); University of Lyon II; and University Jean Moulin, or Lyon III (1973).

Special points of interest in Lyon include two Roman amphitheaters; the Cathedral of Saint Jean (12th century); the narrow streets and Renaissance mansions of Old Lyon on the eastern bank of the Rhône; the Musée Historique des Tissus, which has the largest collection of textiles in the world; and the museum of Contemporary Art, which opened in 1995 and was designed by Italian architect Renzo Piano. The city contains the oldest stock exchange in France and several noted restaurants. Paul Bocuse, one of the country's best-known chefs, operates an establishment in a nearby suburb. Lyon is also the site of annual trade fairs. A subway opened here in 1978. In 1981 Lyon became the first French city to be connected to Paris by the high-speed train known as the TGV (Train à Grande Vitesse).

Lyon was founded in 43 bc as the Roman colony of Lugdunum and was the major city of ancient Gaul by the 2nd century ad. Christianity was introduced into Gaul at Lyon, and for centuries the city was a leading religious center ruled by archbishops. The French crown annexed Lyon in 1307, and later in the 14th century it became a center of trade and commerce famous for its silk industry. The modern industrialization of the city began in the 19th century. During World War II (1939-1945), Lyon was a major center of the French Resistance during the German occupation of France. Many immigrants from France's former colonial holdings in North Africa have settled in Lyon. Population (2005 estimate) 466,400.