LYONS (le-ong'), a city of France, capital of the department Rhone, and the second of the republic in population and commercial importance, situated chiefly on a peninsula between the rivers Rhone and Saone, and on the Paris and Mar seilles and other railroads, 275 miles E. N. E. of Bordeaux, 172 miles N. N. W. of Marseilles, and 245 miles S. E. of Paris ; lat. 45° 45' 44" N., lon. 4° 49' 34" E.; is the great warehouse of the S. of France and of Switzerland; principal manufac ture silk stuffs, giving employment di rectly or indirectly to 100,000 hands. It is the seat of an archbishop, and is the chef-lieu of the 7th military division. The cathedral and Church of St. Nizier, the Hotel de Ville (town hall), the finest edifice of the kind in the country, the hospital, the public library with 130,000 volumes, and the Palais des Beaux Arts, are perhaps the most notable among numerous and important institutions. There are also a university-academy, a veterinary school—the first founded in the country—schools for agriculture, medicine, the fine arts, etc. The two
rivers are crossed by 24 bridges: 12 over the SaOne, 11 over the RhOne, and one at the confluence. The quays, 28 in number, are said to be the most remarkable in Europe. There are several large and important suburbs—La Guillotiere, Les vol. VI-Cyc-D Brotteaux, La Croix-Rousse, etc.; several fine squares, of which the Place Bellecour is one of the largest in Europe. The fortifications extend in a circle of 13 miles round the city. Lyons, the ancient Lugdunum, was founded about 42 years before the Christian era, and suffered greatly during the Revolution from the conflicts of hostile parties. It is the birthplace of Germanicus, the emperors Claudius, M. Aurelius, and Caracalla; of Jussieu, Jacquard, and Camille Jourdan. Pop. about 525,000.