“Rhônalpin” someone whispers perhaps a forgotten echo of a region. It seems a far cry from Geneva. Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes the former administrative region of France existed until December 31 2015.
Now stand here and imagine Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes. This region bordered Switzerland and included part of Geneva. It spanned 43698 square kilometers a substantial area. Its capital was Lyon a city steeped in history.
Lyon played a pivotal role in Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes. Lyon is a major city in France. Lyon sits at the confluence of the Rh\u00f4ne and Saône rivers. Lyon was once the capital of the Gauls under the Roman Empire.
Consider Lyon’s history. The Romans founded Lugdunum in 43 BC. Lyon became a vital city in Gaul. Lyon was the seat of power for the Roman Empire in the region.
Imagine the echoes of the past in Lyon. Marcus Aurelius persecuted Christians here in 177 AD. Septimius Severus decimated Lyon in 197 AD. Lyon became part of the Holy Roman Empire in 1032. France annexed Lyon in 1312.
The Renaissance brought prosperity and brilliance to Lyon. Lyon held commercial fairs starting in 1464. Italian merchant bankers helped Lyon flourish. By the 17th century Lyon was Europe’s silk manufacturing capital. Lyon became a printing hub after 1473.
French Revolution times were difficult for Lyon. Lyon’s silk industry slumped. Republican forces besieged Lyon in 1793. Lyon bounced back in the 19th century. Lyon saw significant industrial expansion. Urban development in Lyon started in the 1950s. This followed stagnation and depression between 1920 and World War II.
Visualize Lyon today. Lyon has a diverse economy now. Lyon still manufactures rayon and silk. Chemicals are a key industry in Lyon. Chemical production was spurred by dyes synthetic fibers and oil products. Lyon has a metallurgical industry. Lyon also has prosperous construction food and printing industries.
Picture cultural life in Lyon. Lyon has rich museums including textile archaeological and fine arts museums. Lyon has museums of printing and banking. Lyon’s municipal library holds rare books. Lyon’s city theaters include the Opéra and the Célestins. Lyon hosts music and drama festivals each June in the Roman theater. Interpol has its headquarters in Lyon.
Consider some unusual Lyon facts. River cruises called Bateaux Mouches started in Lyon not Paris. The Statue of Liberty and Lyons Fountain of Terreaux share the same creator. That was Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi. A tale speaks of a crocodile in the Rh\u00f4ne River in 1745. Lyons T\u00eate d’Or Park mirrors New York’s Central Park. Cinema was born in Lyon. The Saint Paul funicular once transported coffins. Lyon has a mini Eiffel Tower on Fourvière hill. Antoine de Saint Exupéry author of The Little Prince was born in Lyon.
Though Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes is gone its legacy remains. It lives on in Lyon’s history culture and spirit. Its influence touched Geneva and beyond. Think of Rh\u00f4ne-Alpes as a chapter in a long story a story etched in the landscape and the hearts of the people.