Lyon or Lyons is a city in east-central France, in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located approximately 470km from Paris, 320km from Marseille, 420km from Strasbourg, 160km from Geneva, 280km from Turin. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais.The municipality of Lyon has a population of 491,268 and is France's third largest city after Paris and Marseille. Lyon is the seat of the metropolis of Lyon, and the capital of both the Rhône-Alpes region and the Rhône département. The greater metropolitan area of Lyon, a concept for statistical purposes that is not an administrative division, has a population of 2,214,068, which makes it the second-largest metropolitan area in France after Île-de-France .The city is known for its historical and architectural landmarks and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lyon was historically known as an important area for the production and weaving of silk. Since the late 20th century, it has developed a reputation as the capital of gastronomy in France and in the world.