Lyon

Lyon, also known as Lyons, is a city in east-central France, in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region, about 470km from Paris, 320km from Marseille and 55km from Saint-Étienne. Inhabitants of the city are called Lyonnais.Lyon had a population of 506,615 in 2014 and is France's third-largest city after Paris and Marseille. Lyon is the capital of the Metropolis of Lyon and the region of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes. The metropolitan area of Lyon had a population of 2,237,676 in 2013, the second-largest in France after Paris.The city is known for its cuisine and gastronomy and historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. 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 where Auguste and Louis Lumière invented the cinematographe. It is also known for its light festival, the Fête des Lumières, which begins every 8 December and lasts for four days, earning Lyon the title of Capital of Lights.