Ultra-modern, ultra-friendly, and undeniably gourmet, Lyon (lee-ohn) is more relaxed than Paris, and can claim a few more centuries of history. Its location at the confluence of the Rhône and Saône rivers, and along the road that connected Italy to the Atlantic, made Lyon the obvious choice to serve as the capital of Roman Gaul. The city may have gone a little downhill in the ensuing centuries, but it has recently shed its long-standing reputation as a gritty industrial city, now emphasizing its beautiful parks, well-preserved Renaissance quarter, and modern financial sector. The city is perhaps best known as an incubator of contemporary culinary genius, particularly as the home of world-renowned chef Paul Bocuse.