In the city of Lyon, east-central France

 “How can you govern a country, which has 246 varieties of cheese?”

― Charles de Gaulle
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(in east-central France) Lyon, capital of both the Rhône department and the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, is set on a hilly site at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers. It is the third largest city in France, after Paris and Marseille.

+ A Roman military colony called Lugdunum was founded here in 43 BCE, and it subsequently became the capital of the Gauls. Lyon reached its peak of classical development in the 2nd century CE, during which time Christianity was introduced. In 177 the Christian community was persecuted by the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, and in 197 Lucius Septimius Severus decimated Lyon. In 1032 Lyon was incorporated into the Holy Roman Empire, though real power lay with the city’s archbishops, whose influence caused important ecumenical councils to be held here in 1245 and 1274. Lyon was annexed to the kingdom of France in 1312. The Renaissance ushered in a period of economic prosperity and intellectual brilliance. The establishment, in 1464, of commercial fairs and the arrival in the city of Italian merchant bankers enabled Lyon to flourish. By the 17th century it was the silk-manufacturing capital of Europe. Printing was introduced as early as 1473, and Lyon soon became one of the most active printing centers in Europe. The French Revolution brought uneasy times, and in 1793 the city was besieged by republican forces of the Montagnards. (In the 19th century prosperity returned.)

+ Lyon is spread over a narrow peninsula between the Rhône and Saône rivers -- on their opposite banks. A zone of factory and residential suburbs encircles the city. On the right bank of the Saône, Vieux Lyon (Old Lyon) remains as one of the finest surviving architectural complexes of the Renaissance era. Lyon's outstanding museums, dynamic cultural life, busy clubbing and drinking scenes, thriving university, and fantastic shopping lend the city a distinctly sophisticated air, while adventurous gourmets can indulge in their wildest gastronomic fantasies. Don't leave the city without sampling some Lyonnais specialities in a bouchon -- the quintessential Lyon experience.

+ A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Lyon has 2,000 years of history imprinted on its cobblestone streets. Explore this history in Vieux Lyon (one of Europe's most extensive Renaissance neighborhoods) and Lyon's two Roman amphitheaters, which still stage rock concerts today. It is no wonder Lyon is a popular area for travelers, with its dynamic university, first-class shopping, antique markets, vibrant theater and music festivals, and a range of interesting museums, such as the International Puppet Museum and the Museum of Miniatures and Film Sets.

+ Pictured here is the Chapelle de la Vierge in Lyon. topped with a statue of Mary -- to the left of the Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which was built between 1872 and 1896 in a dominant position overlooking the city.