INTRODUCTION: Constructed on the banks of two rivers (the Rhône and the Saône), surrounded by two hills (“the hill that works” and “the hill that prays”), Lyon has become an important European city. The “capital of Gaul” is also the renowned capital of silk and lights.


• Called Lugdunum (i.e. the city of the “light”) over the time of the Romans and crossroad of Roman routes, Lyon developed quickly with the construction of temples, theatres, forums and so forth.


• For the Renaissance, Lyon was a flourishing city because of its trade fairs and its well-known silk industry. Meanwhile, Lyon was also a city of intellectual exchanges influences by numerous artists and writers such as Rabelais and Louis Labé.

• During the 17th and 18th centuries, Lyon became the first working class city in France owing to its silk industry known throughout Europe. Subsequently, the economical and institutional life was established on the Persqu’île (a district of the city).

• Lyon acquired its industrial power tanks to the invention of better, performing weaving looms, symbol of its industrial growth, which triggered the beginning of prosperity era for the city. From that time, Lyon changed its landscape and began the location of industry commerce and finance. Many monuments of great renown today were built and some major figures as the Lumière Brothers changed the destiny of the city.

• The development of Lyon was marked by two major figures: major Edouard Herriot and architect Tony Garnier which brought up to date the city. The city became a capital of the French revolution during the II world war, and was an important place for the resistance network. Lyon became a European metropolis tanks to the reconstruction of the city after the war , which led to the development of transports, new establishment and cultural sites.

• Lyon, the 2nd largest urban area in France gave itself a new image for its entry into the 21st century. It favoured the development of a new economic area: the “Cité Internationale”, and a redevelopment project concerning the area south of presqu’île.

            EDITED BY ETIENNE HERRERO AND VINCENT GUYOT VTC 125 FRANCE