Lyon (France)

Lyon (aka Lyons) is a Rhone-Saone river cruise port and city in Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes region (east-central France), located between Marseille and Paris City. The city is located at the confluence of two rivers (Rhone and Saone). Lyon is approx 470 km (292 mi) from Paris, 320 km (200 mi) from Marseille, 420 km (260 mi) from Strasbourg and 160 km (100 mi) from Geneva (Switzerland).

By population (around 2,27 million), the Lyon metro area is ranked France's 2nd-largest (after Paris). By city-proper population (around 510,000), Lyon is France's 3rd-largest (after Paris and Marseille). The city (itself an UNESCO World Heritage Site) is best-known for its numerous architectural and historical landmarks. The region was historically known as a major center for silk production and weaving. Since the late-20th century, Lyon was developed as the main center of French cuisine and internationally significant gastronomical locale.

As the Lumiere brothers (Auguste and Louis) invented the cinematograph (movie camera) in Lyon, the city has a significant role in the history of cinema. Here is also held the annual Fete des Lumieres (light festival, December 8-12). The city is also a major center for banking, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, biotechnology, software industry (especially video gaming). Here are the international headquarters of Euronews (European pay-TV network), Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) and IARC Group (International Agency for Research on Cancer).