Lyon is the second largest metropolitan area in France.

Lyon’s strategic location has many advantages for touring and international business.  It is a short drive from the ski slopes in the Alps (approximately 1.5 hours) and roughly three hours by car from the Mediterranean beaches.  Lyon is very accessible to the neighboring countries of Switzerland, Italy, Germany and Spain.

Though an international city, Lyon’s smaller size allows one to be truly immersed in the traditional French culture.  Lyon is also the gastronomy capital of France.  There are many world-class restaurants that serve local cuisine complemented with wine from the surrounding Burgundy, Beaujolais and Côte de Rhône regions.

The city of Lyon is over 2,000 years old and is rich in history.  From the Roman Empire, to the medieval silk trade, to the French Resistance, Lyon has played an important role in European affairs.  In 1995, the Vieux Lyon and Croix Rousse districts of the city were designated a “World Heritage Site” by UNESCO.