From wikipedia about Lyon
Lyon, is a city in east-central
France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais.
The city of Lyon has 480, 660 inhabitants. Together with its suburbs and satellite towns, Lyon forms the second-largest metropolitan area in
France after Paris, with the population of its urban area estimated to be 1, 422, 331 and that of its metropolitan area 1, 757, 180. Its urban region represents half of the Rhône-Alpes region population with 2. 9 million inhabitants. Lyon is the capital of this region, as well as the capital of the smaller Rhône département.
The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk and in modern times has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in
France. It has a significant role in the history of cinema due to Auguste and Louis Lumière. The local professional football team, Olympique Lyonnais, has increased the profile of Lyon internationally through participation in European football championships.
Economically, Lyon is a major centre for banking and also the chemical, pharmaceutical, and biotech industries. The city contains a significant software industry with a particular focus on video games, and in recent years has focussed on a growing local start-up sector. Lyon also hosts the international headquarters of Interpol, Euronews and International Agency for Research on Cancer. Lyon is ranked 2nd in
France as an economic centre and convention centre on some measures..