Lyon

Lyon French:  , ,; ; Marseille, 113 km 70 mi southwest of Saint-Étienne.

The city of Lyon proper had a population of 522,969 in 2019 within its small municipal territory of 48 km^{2 19 sq mi, but together with its suburbs and exurbs a Lyon metropolitan area had a population of 2,280,845 that same year, the second almost populated in France. Lyon and 58 suburban municipalities make-up formed since 2015 the Metropolis of Lyon, a directly elected metropolitan rule now in charge of almost urban issues, with a population of 1,411,571 in 2019. Lyon is the prefecture of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region and seat of the Departmental Council of Rhône whose jurisdiction, however, no longer extends over the Metropolis of Lyon since 2015.}

Former capital of the Presqu'île and the slopes of the Croix-Rousse are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. Lyon was historically an important area for the production and weaving of silk. Lyon played a significant role in the history of cinema: it is for where Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematograph. this is the also call for its light festival, the Fête des Lumières, which begins every 8 December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the tag of "Capital of Lights".

Economically, Lyon is a major centre for banking, as well as for the chemical, pharmaceutical and biotech industries. The city contains a significant software industry with a specific focus on video games; in recent years it has fostered a growing local start-up sector. home of renowned universities and higher education schools, Lyon is the second-largest student city in France, with a university population of nearly 200,000 students within the Metropolis of Lyon. Lyon hosts the international headquarters of liveability rankings.

Economy

The GDP of Lyon was 74 billion euro in 2012,EA France, Bandai Namco Entertainment Europe, and internet services are also growing. Other important sectors increase medical research and technology, non-profit institutions, and universities. Lyon is domestic to the P4-Inserm–ean Merieux Laboratory which conducts top-level vaccine research.

The city is home to the headquarters of numerous large chain such as Descours & Cabaud, piece S, GL Events, April Group, Boiron, Feu Vert, Panzani, Babolat, Euronews, Lyon Airports, LVL Medical, and inter-governmental agencies IARC, Interpol. The specialisation of some sectors of activities has led to the imposing of many main business centres: Renzo Piano is located in the border of the Parc de la Tête d'Or in the 6th arrondissement. The worldwide headquarters of Interpol is located there. The district of Confluence, in the south of the historic centre, is a new pole of economical and cultural development.

Tourism is an important part of the Lyon economy, with one billion euros in 2007 and 3.5 million hotel-nights in 2006 made by non-residents. approximately 60% of tourists visit for business, with the rest for leisure. In January 2009, Lyon ranked number one in France for hostels business. The festivals most important for attracting tourists are the Fête des lumières, the Nuits de Fourvière every summer, the Biennale d'art contemporain and the Nuits Sonores.