Often referred to as France’s ‘Second City’, Lyon is an important centre of industry in culture in France’s Rhône-Alps region. Only two hours from Paris by TGV high-speed train, Lyon serves both as a transportation hub and as a gateway to the Alps and Rhone Valley.

Cut by the Saône River, Lyon is subdivided into its old and new cities—Vieux Lyon and Presqu’île, respectively. The old city holds several historic buildings, the entirety of which has earned it a place on UNESCO’s World Heritage site list. Of particular interest in Vieux Lyon is the network traboules, or underground tunnels, which link numerous residences in the old city with centres of commerce. These passageways were once employed by the city’s silk industry.