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Continents · France

Lyon

CountryFrance
Population522 000
Area47.9 km²
Founded43 BC

Lyon grew where the Rhône meets the Saône. Roman Lugdunum became a silk town, then a printing and banking city. The old quarters climb two hills; the peninsula between the rivers holds the modern centre.

Today it is known for kitchens, murals, and a dense tram network. The silk workshops of Croix-Rousse are museums, but the river quays are still the city’s spine.

Fourvière hill
Presqu’île
Croix-Rousse stairs