Lyon

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Jump to: navigation, search
 This article needs additional citations for verification.
Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (January 2008)
This article is about the French city. For other uses, see Lyon (disambiguation).
Coordinates: 45°46′1″N, 4°50′3″E
Ville de Lyon
Flag of Lyons
Coat of arms of Lyons
City flag City coat of arms

Motto: Avant, avant, Lion le melhor.
(Franco-Provençal: Forward, forward, Lyon the best)
Lyon's Part-Dieu district
Location
Image:Paris_plan_pointer_b_jms.gif
Map highlighting the commune of Lyons
Time Zone CET (GMT +1)
Coordinates 45°46′1″N, 4°50′3″E
Administration
Country France
Region Rhône-Alpes
Department Rhône (69)
Subdivisions 9 arrondissements
Intercommunality Urban Community
of Lyon
Mayor Gérard Collomb (PS)
(2008-2014)
City Statistics
Land area¹ 47.95 km²
Population²
(2007)		 470,000
 - Ranking 3rd in France
 - Density 10,000/km² (2007)
Urban Spread
Urban Area 954 km² (1999)
 - Population 1,452,952 (2007)
Metro Area 3,306 km² (1999)
 - Population 1,783,400 (2007)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France
Historic Site of Lyons*
UNESCO World Heritage Site
State Party Flag of France France
Type Cultural
Criteria ii, iv
Reference 872
Region† Europe and North America
Inscription history
Inscription 1998  (22nd Session)
* Name as inscribed on World Heritage List.
† Region as classified by UNESCO.

Lyon, also known as Lyons in English (Liyon in Franco-Provençal, while former names include Lugdunum in Latin) pronounced [ljɔ̃] (help·info) in French, is a city in east central France. It is the second largest French city, the first being Paris. It is a major centre of business, situated between Paris and Marseille, and has a reputation as the French capital of gastronomy and a significant role in the history of cinema. It is also the religious capital of France for the Roman Catholic Church.

Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second largest metropolitan area in France after Paris, with 1,783,400 inhabitants at the 2007 estimate, and approximately the 20th to 25th largest metropolitan area of Western Europe. Its urban area (Région Urbaine de Lyon), represents half of the Rhône-Alpes région population with 2,9 million inhabitants[1]. Lyon is also a major industrial center specialized in chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries.

Lyon is the préfecture (capital) of the Rhône département, and also the capital of the Rhône-Alpes région. The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

Lyon is known to be the silk capital of the world and is a centre for fashion. It is also the international headquarters of Interpol and EuroNews.

Contents

[edit] History

Main article for early history: Lugdunum.
Further information: Ecclesiastical history of Lyon

Lyon was founded as a Roman colony in 43 BCE by Munatius Plancus, a lieutenant of Caesar, on the site of a Gaulish hill-fort settlement called Lug[o]dunon—from the Celtic sun god Lugus ('Light', cognate with Old Irish Lugh, Modern Irish Lú) and dúnon (hill-fort). Lyon was first named Lugdunum meaning the "hill of lights" or "the hill of crows". Lug was equated by the Romans to Mercury.

The three parts of Gaul mentioned by Caesar met at Lyon. Agrippa recognized that Lugdunum's position on the natural highway from northern to south-eastern France made it a natural communications hub, and he made Lyon the starting point of the principal Roman roads throughout Gaul. It then became the capital of Gaul, partly thanks to its fortunate site at the convergence of two navigable rivers, and quickly became the main city of Gaul. Two emperors were born in this city: Claudius and Caracalla. Today the archbishop of Lyon is still referred to as "le primat des Gaules".

The Christians in Lyon were persecuted for their religious views under the reigns of the Roman emperors Marcus Aurelius and Septimus Severus. These included saints such as Blandina (Blandine), Pothinus (Pothin) , and Epipodius (Épipode), among others.

The great Christian bishop of Lyon in the 2nd century was the Easterner Irenaeus.

Lyon's 18th-century town hall.
Lyon's 18th-century town hall.

Burgundian refugees from the destruction of Worms by Huns in 437 were resettled by the military commander of the west, Aëtius, at Lugdunum, which was formally the capital of the new Burgundian kingdom by 461.

In 843, by the Treaty of Verdun, Lyon, with the country beyond the Saône, went to Lothair I, and later became a part of the Kingdom of Arles. Lyon only came under French control in the fourteenth century.

Fernand Braudel remarked, "Historians of Lyon are not sufficiently aware of the bi-polarity between Paris and Lyon, which is a constant structure in French development" from the late Middle Ages to the Industrial Revolution (Braudel 1984 p. 327). The fairs in Lyon, the invention of Italian merchants, made it the economic countinghouse of France in the late 15th century. When international banking moved to Genoa, then Amsterdam, Lyon simply became the banking centre of France; its new Bourse (treasury), built in 1749, still resembled a public bazaar where accounts were settled in the open air. During the Renaissance, the city developed with the silk trade, especially with Italy; the Italian influence on Lyon's architecture can still be seen. Thanks to the silk trade, Lyon became an important industrial town during the 19th century.

Lyon was a scene of mass violence against Huguenots in the St. Bartholomew's Day Massacres in 1572.

The silk workers of Lyon, known as canuts, staged two major uprisings: in 1831 and 1834. The 1831 uprising saw one of the first recorded uses of the black flag as an emblem of protest.

Lyon was a centre for the occupying German forces and also a stronghold of resistance during World War II, and the city is now home to a resistance museum. (See also Klaus Barbie.) The traboules, or secret passages, through the houses enabled the local people to escape Gestapo raids.

[edit] Geography

Waterfall facing Saint Jean
Waterfall facing Saint Jean

Lyon's geography is dominated by the Rhône and Saône rivers which converge to the south of the historic city center forming a sort of peninsula or "presqu'île"; two large hills, one to the west and one to the north of the historic city center; and a large plain which sprawls eastward from the historic city center.

To the west is Fourvière, known as "the hill that prays", the location for the highly decorated Notre-Dame de Fourvière basilica, several convents, the palace of the Archbishop, the Tour métallique (a highly visible TV tower, replicating the last stage of the Eiffel Tower) and a funicular.

To the north is the Croix-Rousse, "the hill that works", traditionally home to many small silk workshops, an industry for which the city was renowned.

The original medieval city (Vieux Lyon) was built on the west bank of the Saône river at the foot of the Fourvière hill, west of the presqu'île. (This area, along with portions of the presqu'ile and much of the Croix-Rousse are recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

On the peninsula (presqu'île) between the rivers Rhône and Saône is located the third largest public square in France, and one of the largest in Europe, the Place Bellecour. Specifically, it is the largest clear square (i.e., without any patches of greenery, trees or any other kind of obstacles) in Europe.[citation needed] The broad, pedestrian-only Rue de la République leads north from Place Bellecour.

East of the Rhône from the presqu'île is a large area of flat ground upon which sits much of modern Lyon and most of the city's population. Situated in this area is the urban centre of Part-Dieu which clusters the former Crédit Lyonnais Tower (central France's only skyscraper), the Part-Dieu shopping centre, and Lyon's main rail terminal, Lyon Part-Dieu.

North of this district is the relatively wealthy 6th arrondissement, which is home to the Parc de la Tête d'Or, one of Europe's largest urban parks, the prestigious Lycée du Parc to the south of the park, and Interpol's headquarters on the park's western edge.

[edit] Climate

Climate Table
  Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Mean daily maximum temperature (°C) 6.2 8.4 12.4 15.3 20.0 23.5 27.0 26.7 22.3 16.7 10.2 7.1 16.3
Mean daily minimum temperature (°C) 0.1 1.2 3.3 5.6 9.9 13.1 15.6 15.3 11.9 8.4 3.6 1.5 7.5
Mean total rainfall (mm) 52.9 50.5 54.8 72.3 87.8 80.2 62.0 69.0 88.3 94.7 75.1 55.5 843.1
Mean number of rain days 9.4 9.0 8.8 9.5 11.3 8.8 6.8 7.2 7.7 10.3 9.2 9.5 107.5
Source: worldweather.org


[edit] Administration

Lyon is the capital of the Rhône-Alpes région, the préfecture of the Rhône département, and the capital of 14 cantons, covering 1 commune, and with a total population of 488 300 (2007).

[edit] Arrondissements

Main article: Arrondissements of Lyon
The arrondissements of Lyon.
The arrondissements of Lyon.
Mural in the États-Unis area of the 8th arrondissement in 1995
Mural in the États-Unis area of the 8th arrondissement in 1995

Like Paris and Marseille, Lyon is divided into a number of municipal arrondissements (sometimes translated into English as boroughs), each of which is identified by a number and has its own council and town hall.

Five arrondissements were originally created in 1852, when three neighbouring communes (La Croix-Rousse, La Guillotière, and Vaise) were annexed by Lyon.

Between 1867 and 1959, the 3rd arrondissement (which originally covered the whole of the Left Bank of the Rhône) was split three times, creating a new arrondissement in each case.

Then, in 1963, the commune of Saint-Rambert-l'Île-Barbe was annexed to Lyon's 5th arrondissement. A year later, in 1964, the 5th was split to create Lyon's 9th – and, to date, final – arrondissement.

Within each arrondissement, there are a number of recognisable quartiers or neighbourhoods:

  • 1st arrdt: Pentes de la Croix-Rousse, Terreaux, Martinière/St-Vincent
  • 2nd arrdt: Cordeliers, Bellecour, Ainay, Perrache, Confluent
  • 3rd arrdt: Guillotière (north), Part-Dieu, Villette, Sans Souci/Dauphiné, Montchat, Grange Blanche (north)
  • 4th arrdt: Plateau de la Croix-Rousse, Serin
  • 5th arrdt: Vieux Lyon (St-Paul, St-Jean, St-Georges), St-Just, St-Irénée, Fourvière, Point du Jour, Ménival, Battières, Champvert (south)
  • 6th arrdt: Brotteaux, Bellecombe, Parc de la Tête d'Or, Cité Internationale
  • 7th arrdt: Guillotière (south), Jean Macé, Gerland
  • 8th arrdt: Monplaisir, Monplaisir La Plaine, Bachut, États-Unis, Grand Trou/Moulin à Vent, Mermoz, Laënnec, Grange Blanche (south)
  • 9th arrdt: Vaise, Duchère, Rochecardon, St-Rambert-l'Île-Barbe, Gorge de Loup, Observance, Champvert (north)

[edit] Culture

A view of one of the Parc de la Tête d'Or's many gardens
A view of one of the Parc de la Tête d'Or's many gardens
Statue of Louis XIV, with Ferris wheel in background, at Bellecour.
Statue of Louis XIV, with Ferris wheel in background, at Bellecour.
The "Fête des Lumières" expresses gratitude to the Virgin Mary.
The "Fête des Lumières" expresses gratitude to the Virgin Mary.
A photograph from Fourvière showing the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant in the distance, 30 km away.
A photograph from Fourvière showing the Bugey Nuclear Power Plant in the distance, 30 km away.
The basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which overlooks the city.
The basilica Notre-Dame de Fourvière, which overlooks the city.
The Roman-era Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules
The Roman-era Amphithéâtre des Trois Gaules
  • Since the Middle Ages, the Arpitans, residents of the region, speak Franco-Provençal dialects. The Lyonnais dialect was partly replaced by the French language as the importance of the city grew. However, it is still alive and, in addition, some "frenchified" Franco-Provençal words can also be heard in the French of the Lyonnais, who call their little boys and girls "gones" and "fenottes" for example.
  • Lyon was an early centre for printing books, and nurtured a circle of 16th century poets.
  • For several centuries Lyon and its bouchons have been known as the French capital of gastronomy, fine handweaving, and the silk trade.
  • The Lumière brothers invented cinema in the town in 1895. The Musée Lumière is there as a testimony, hosting many of their first inventions.
  • December 8 each year is marked by "la Fête des lumières" (the Festival of Lights), a celebration of thanks to the Virgin Mary, who purportedly saved the city from a deadly plague in the Middle Ages. During the event, the local population places candles (lumignons) at their windows and the city of Lyon organizes and projects impressive large-scale light shows onto the sides of important Lyonnais monuments, such as the medieval Cathédrale St-Jean.
  • Lyon is also the French capital of "trompe l'œil"-walls, a very ancient tradition. Many are to be seen everywhere around the city.
  • The Brothers of the Sacred Heart, a Roman Catholic congregation that operates schools in Europe and North America, was founded in Lyon in 1821.

[edit] UNESCO World Heritage Site

The Saint-Jean and the Croix-Rousse areas, which are noted for their narrow passageways (traboules) that pass through buildings and link the streets either side, were designated UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1998.

[edit] Main sights

These are the main sights of Lyon.

[edit] Colleges and universities

[edit] International schools in Lyon

There are several international schools in Lyon, including:

[edit] Sport

Lyon is home to Ligue 1 football (soccer) team Olympique Lyonnais, commonly known as "Lyon" or "OL". The team has enjoyed unprecedented success recently, winning the last seven national titles and establishing themselves as France's premier football club. The captain of the side, Juninho Pernambucano is one of several Brazilians at Lyon, and he has received many awards while leading his team to unrivalled success. The team competes in the prestigious UEFA Champions' League and currently plays at the impressive Stade de Gerland, where the Danone Nation's Cup is held every year. The team is set to move to a new stadium in Décines-Charpieu (in the eastern suburbs) in 2010. Lyon also has a rugby union team, Lyon OU, currently playing in division 2, Rugby Pro D2. In addition, Lyon has a rugby league side: Lyon Villeurbanne Rhône XIII, or LVR XIII[3], play in the French rugby league championship. The club's current home ground is Stade Georges Lyvet in Villeurbanne. Finally, Villeurbanne also has a renowned basketball team, ASVEL, who play at the Astroballe arena in Cusset.

[edit] Transport

[edit] Air

Saint-Exupéry International Airport is located 20 km to the east of Lyon, and serves as a base for regional and international flights.

[edit] Rail

Lyon is connected to the north (Lille, Paris, Brussels) and the south (Marseille, Montpellier) by the TGV. It was the first city to be connected by the TGV c. 1981.

Lyon has two major railway stations: Lyon Part-Dieu, which was built to accommodate the TGV and has become the principal railway station for extra-regional trains; and Lyon Perrache, which is an older station that now primarily serves regional rail services. In practice, many trains, including TGVs, serve both stations. Smaller railway stations include Gorge de Loup, Vaise, Venissieux and St-Paul.

Lyon Saint-Exupéry International Airport is also directly connected to the TGV network with its own station Gare de Lyon Saint-Exupéry.

[edit] Road

Network of motorways around Lyon
Network of motorways around Lyon

The City is at the heart of a dense road network and is the meeting point of several motorways: A6 (to Paris), A7 (to Marseille), A42 (to Geneve), A43 (Grenoble). The city is now bypassed by the A46.

[edit] Intercity coach

Lyon is served by the Eurolines intercity coach organisation. Its Lyon terminal is located at the city's Perrache railway station.

[edit] Public transport

Public bicycle service Vélo'v
Public bicycle service Vélo'v
Further information: Lyon Metro and Tramways in Lyon

The TCL (French: Transports en Commun Lyonnais), Lyon's public transport system, consisting of metros, buses and trams, serves 62 communes of the Lyon agglomeration. The metro system has 4 lines, 39 stations and runs with a frequency of up to a metro every 2 minutes. The bus system consists of normal buses, trolleybuses and coaches for areas outside the centre, but which operate on the same ticketing scheme. There are three tram lines since December 2006: T1 from Montrochet in the south to IUT-Fessine in the north, Tram T2 from Perrache station in the southwest to Saint-Priest in the southeast, and Tram T3 from Part-Dieu to Meyzieu.

The public transit system is complemented by Vélo'v, a bicycle network providing a low cost and convenient bicycle hire service where bicycles can be hired and dropped off at any of several hundred stations throughout the city.

[edit] People from Lyon

Main article: List of people from Lyon

[edit] Sister cities

Lyon's sister cities are:

[edit] Cultural references

  • The city figures in the play The Lyons Mail by Charles Reade, which was adapted into a film in 1931.
  • Lyon in the year 1656 is described by Samuel Chappuzeau in his book Lyon dans son lustre.
  • A historical article about a 19th century flood inspired the 1979 song "The Flood at Lyons" by the rock band Renaissance.
  • In the Marillion song "Bitter Suite" from Misplaced Childhood there is a reference to Lyon. The line is: "The sky was bible black in Lyons, when I met the Magdalene."
  • Morrissey, former singer with The Smiths, briefly mentions Lyon in the 2006 song "Christian Dior," the B-side to "In The Future When All's Well".
  • Lyon is the name of a multi-player level in the real-time strategy game Company of Heroes.

[edit] References

  1. ^ The RUL website (French)
  2. ^ The African Museum of Lyon Website
  3. ^ Le site de Lyon Villeurbanne Rhône à XIII - LVR XIII
  4. ^ Montreal partner city

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


v • d • e
Flag of France Préfectures of régions of France
Metropolitan France
Overseas regions
v • d • e
World Heritage Sites in France

Abbey Church of Saint-Savin-sur-Gartempe · Amiens Cathedral · Roman and Romanesque Monuments, Arles · Papal Palace, Episcopal Ensemble and Avignon Bridge, Avignon · Belfries of Belgium and France (with Belgium) · Bordeaux, Port of the Moon · Bourges Cathedral · Canal du Midi · Gulf of Porto (Calanches de Piana • Gulf of Girolata • Scandola Reserve) · Carcassonne · Cathedral of Notre-Dame, former Abbey of Saint-Remi and Palace of Tau, Reims · Cathedral of Chartres · Cistercian Abbey of Fontenay · Le Havre · Loire Valley between Sully-sur-Loire and Chalonnes · Lyon · Mont Saint-Michel and its Bay · Fontainebleau Palace and Park · Palace and Park of Versailles · Paris – Banks of the Seine · Place Stanislas, Place de la Carrière and Place d'Alliance, Nancy · Pont du Gard · Prehistoric Sites and Decorated Caves of the Vézère Valley · Provins · Pyrénées – Mont Perdu (with Spain) · Routes of Santiago de Compostela · Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange · Royal Saltworks of Arc-et-Senans · Saint-Émilion · Strasbourg – Grande Île · Vézelay Church and Hill

 Flag of France
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyon"
Personal tools