Twin city Lyon (France)
History and profile of the twin city
Founded 43 BC as Lugdunum by the Roman Proconsul Plancus, the city became the capital of the Roman province Gallium. The collapse of the Roman Empire led to the decline of Lyons.
Following a long period of reign by the Church, the city received administrative autonomy again after joining the kingdom in 1320.
The city saw its first heyday of power and prosperity during the Renaissance. Industrial development during the 19th century was rapid, making Lyon famous for its silk products.
After World War II, the city saw another period of enormous growth. Having always been an important location for wholesale trade, the city became a trade fair centre in 1984.
Economically, the area is dominated by the textile industry and trade, the metal processing and construction industries, electronics, rail and road vehicle production and chemical industry.
The city is a central traffic junction for both road and rail, has an airport and a suburban railway. Lyon is also a financial and cultural centre and the seat of many authorities.
Several universities and colleges of higher education can be found here including a Catholic university and a university for librarians. Moreover, Lyon has many museums, theatres and a newly constructed opera house.
The sights of the city include the old city centre with medieval buildings like St. Jean's cathedral, St. Paul’s church and the pilgrimage church Notre Dame.
The city as a whole is worth seeing – hills, rivers, bridges and a mixture of narrow medieval structure and spacious modernity. Other sights include the town hall and the Palais des Arts (a former Benedictine monastery) as well as the Roman theatre and the markets. Lyon has many festivals and a very lively art and music scene. It is an attractive city and a gate to the South of France, near the Alps. And Lyon’s cuisine is also widely acclaimed.
Facts and Figures
- Third-largest city of France and capital of the Départements Rhône
- Population: approx. 420,000 inhabitants
- Twin city of Leipzig since 1981