Lyon - Hôtel de ville

Colonia Copia Claudia Augusta Lugdunum (now Lyon) was an important Roman city in Gaul. It was the capital of the Roman province of Gallia Lugdunensis. The Christianization took place very early.
In 177, the Christian community sent a letter naming 48 of their number who had been martyred. In 843 it was ceded to Lorraine and then passed to the Kingdom of Burgundy, whose dominion was entrusted to the Archbishop of Lyon by Frederick Barbarossa in 1157. In 1312 Philip the Fair incorporated Lyon into the kingdom of France.
Lyon was the scene of an urban revolt in 1436 when Charles VII increased taxation. The uprising, mainly of small merchants, lasted a total of two months. During the reign of Louis XI. Four fairs were set up, attracting merchants from all over Europe, especially Italy. Lyon became an important center for the spice trade and, more importantly, the silk trade after François I granted the weaving rights, which until then had been an Italian monopoly. Florentine immigrants also made Lyon a financial center for banking and insurance.
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It is often said that the most beautiful cities are located on rivers. Lyon is situated on two rivers, the Rhone and the Saone, which meet in the south of the city.
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The city hall of Lyon is located between the Place des Terreaux and the Place de la Comédie, in front of the Opera Nouvel. In the 17th century, the Presqu'île became the city center and Place Terreaux was now the heart of the city. The square was paved and enhanced by the construction of the city hall (1645 - 1672). In 1674 a fire destroyed the great hall and damaged the bell tower, attic, and roof. Due to the lack of funds, the rebuilding was done decades later (1701 - 1703). On the 14th of July 1803, the city hall was destroyed a second time by fire. It was not renovated until the Second Empire.