Massacre during the Canut rebellion
of 1834
The Saône-Rhône confluence
The convention was not the only target within Lyon during the French Revolution.
After the Convention faded into history, the French Directory appeared and days after
the 4 September 1797 Coup of 18 Fructidor, a Directory's commissioner was
assassinated in Lyon.
The city became an important industrial town in the 19th century. In 1831 and 1834,
the canuts (silk workers) of Lyon staged two major uprisings for better working
conditions and pay. In 1862, the first of Lyon's extensive network of funicular
railways began operation.
During World War II, Lyon was a centre for the occupying Nazi forces, including
Klaus Barbie, the infamous "Butcher of Lyon". However, the city was also a
stronghold of the French Resistance, the many secret passages known as traboules, enabled people to escape Gestapo raids.
On 3 September 1944, Lyon was liberated by the 1st Free French Division and the Forces Françaises de l'Intérieur. The city
is now home to a Resistance museum.[33][34]
The Rhône and Saône converge to the south of the historic city centre, forming a
peninsula – the "Presqu'île" – bounded by two large hills to the west and north and a
large plain eastward. Place Bellecour is located on the Presqu'île between the two
rivers and is the third-largest public square in France. The broad, pedestrian-only Rue
de la République leads north from Place Bellecour.
The northern hill is La Croix-Rousse, known as "the hill that works" because it is
traditionally home to many small silk workshops, an industry for which the city has
long been renowned.[35]
The western hill is Fourvière, known as "the hill that prays" because it is the location
for Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourvière, several convents, and Archbishop residence. The district, Vieux Lyon, also hosts
the Tour métallique (a highly visible TV tower, replicating the last stage of the Eiffel Tower) and one of the city's
railways.[36] Fourvière, along with portions of the Presqu'île and much of La Croix-Rousse, is designated as a UNESCO
World Heritage Site.[37]
East of the Rhône from the Presqu'île is a large flat area upon which sits much of modern Lyon and contains most of the
city's population. Situated in this area is La Part-Dieu urban centre, which clusters the landmark structures Tour Incity, Tour
Part-Dieu, Tour Oxygène, and Tour Swiss Life, as well as the city's primary railway station, Gare de Lyon-Part-Dieu.
North of this district lays the sixth arrondissement, which is home to one of Europe's largest urban parks, the Parc de la Tête
d'or, as well as Lycée du Parc and Interpol's world headquarters.
Geography