Lyon the secondlargest city in the country is set in Burgundy，on the Rhone and Soane Rivers. About 431km southeast of Paris and 311km north of Marseille.
Lyon can at times be forgotten on the tourist front. This is a pity as it has a lot to offer，plus it，s much more relaxed and friendlier than many other French cities.
In December 1998，Lyon became one of only a few urban centres on the UNESCO World Heritage List. The city，s major asset resides in the way that it has developed，enabling each of its districts to conserve their own distinctive architectural hallmarkshallmark n.特点.
Lyon also demonstrates its mixed heritage，by displaying traits of a typical northern French town in some areas，while other features bear witness to its Latin heritage. The best way for one to fully appreciate two millennia of Lyon，s historical heritage is on foot.
Walking around，the visitor passes through a number of past eras，from Fourvière Hill and its Roman settlement to evidence of Lyon，s power in the GalloRoman period. Old Lyon (Vieux Lyon) contains the largest display of Renaissance architecture in France，which dates back to the end of the 15th century，when it became an important and wealthy trade centre，famous for its fairs and its silk industry.
Strolling around is also the only way for visitors to appreciate the authentic local feature，the traboules. These covered passageways were created during the Renaissance，initially as short cuts；they later became escape routes for the French resistance during World WarII.
Lyon is a gourmet，s paradise. With the exception of Paris，the city boasts the largest number of Michelinstarred restaurants and famous chefs in the whole of France. One simply has to remember that Lyon is the home of Paul Bocuse and his famous restaurant to appreciateappreciate vt.赏识，鉴赏，感激 vi.增值，涨价 the quality of cuisine available. For a less sophisticated atmosphere，visitors can also sample the simple delights of a bouchon，a small picturesque restaurant specialising in local delicacies.
This intermingling of the history and architecture of the past with the cultural and gastronomic delights of the present combine to make Lyon far more than just another milestone on the way to the Mediterranean but a city worth a visit in its own right.
If sights are not your fancy，then perhaps dining on superb cuisine is. Here Lyon will certainly come to your rescue. It is a gourmet，s paradise. With the exceptionexception n.除外，例外，反对，异议 of Paris，the city boasts the largest number of outstanding eateries and famous chefs in the whole of France.
For party goers，Lyon certainly knows how to enjoy itself and the nightlife is excellent. From night clubs to cinemas and theatre (including the famous Lonnais puppets)，its antique markets，music and cultural festivities there，s tons to see，do and experience.
This intermingling of the history and architecture；of the past with the cultural and gastronomic delights of the present，combine to make Lyon far more than just another milestone on the way to the Mediterranean but a city well worth a visit in its own right. Discover it for yourself，its secrets and its charmcharm n.吸引力，(女人的)魔力，魅力，符咒 vt.迷人，使陶醉，行魔法 vi.用符咒，有魔力，via these guides before you set foot on its soil and get to know the place，before you arrive.
Marseille Overview
法国南大门——马赛
如果把上海比作中国的东大门，那么马赛就堪称法国的南大门。在航空时代来临之前，对利用海路万里迢迢到欧洲的人来说，马赛是主要的门户之一。今天，位于地中海之滨的马赛，是法国第二大城市和最大港口，是仅次于鹿特丹的欧洲第二大港。马赛港区分为老港区和新港区，各港区有一定分工，老港建于1839~1844年，港东西长800米，南北宽250米，呈长方形状。航道水深8米，海流平静，气候温和，航运条件好。老港区是以杂货、修船、集装箱的装卸及客运为主，是欧洲最大的客运港，年客运100万人次，新港在老港的西北方向，1845年建成第一个码头，以后又陆续向西北延伸，扩展到罗纳河河口，港区长达70千米。全部码头区长19千米，水深6~14.5米，有防波大堤。护卫着7个码头区，可以停靠100艘轮船，与世界上300多个港口有船只来往。每年进出口的货船在2万只以上，货物吞吐量达1亿吨，占法国港口总吞吐量的三分之一。马赛港是由马赛港区、拉维拉港区，福斯港区、罗纳圣路易港区等组成。包括沿老港和海湾而建立的6个港湾，共有138个泊位，54.49万平方米的仓库和49.5万平方米的堆场。马赛港可容纳40万吨级的巨轮。港区设备先进，港口装卸齐全，拥有大中小起重机200多台。海湾水深面广，少险滩急流，海潮涨落变化不大，能见度好，非常适合船只的停泊和航行。马赛港进口货物以石油、液化天然气为主，约占总进口量的三分之二，此外有粮食、油料、咖啡、棉花和化肥等。进口的石油和加工后的石油产品，主要通过马赛港的输油管道运到法国各地及邻近的瑞士、奥地利、德国等。
马赛港的腹地，交通运输十分便利，在公路方面有纵贯南北的高速公路与东西向的公路相交，可与地中海各城市和邻国意大利相通。内河航运利用罗纳河，沿河上至福斯、里昂、巴黎等地。空运马里尼安机场设备条件具有国际水平，平均每年可接待250万人次乘客和1.5万吨货物。输油管道从马赛经里昂、斯特拉斯堡至卡尔斯鲁厄，全长782千米。马赛作为法国的南方港有许多有利条件。首先是，在法国南方除军港土伦外，无其他重要港口与竞争，货源充足稳定。其次是法国所使用的石油主要靠进口，而马赛距离中东、北非石油产地距离近，运输时间和运费比较便宜。第三，对外交通方便，可通过苏伊士运河至亚太地区和通过直布罗陀海峡至西百和拉美地区。这些有利条件使马赛港成为对非洲、亚洲太平洋地区的主要贸易港。
马赛是法国最古老的城市，已有2500多年历史。公元前6世纪，古希腊水手就驾驶帆船西行到这里，把船只停泊在小海湾，同时在岸边建起居民点，这就是马赛的萌芽。中世纪时，此地作为十字军东征的船运和补给点再度兴旺。1481年马赛并入法兰西王国，39年后建起第一座正式码头。
1789年马赛港已成为世界性港口。1800年成为罗纳河省的首府。1840年以后，马赛港向北发展，扩大了马赛港范围，新建了6个新港区。1966年马赛港附近的福斯港、拉维拉港、圣路易斯港、长隆特港以及福斯、拉维拉两个工业区划归马赛港管辖。因此通常称为马赛福斯港。马赛从一个渔港发展成为现在的法国第二大海港城市，是随着商业、贸易和海运事业的兴起和发展而不断扩大和发展。今天的马赛已成为法国最大的贸易港和对外贸易为依托，利用进口原料加工成品再向外运出。马赛在港口附近建造炼油厂，提炼原油、其炼油能力已占全法炼油总产量的四分之一左右。在石油工业的基础上，还发展了化工工业。马赛也是法国最大的修船基地，修船量约占全国此行业的70%，现在船舶、炼油、冶金已成为马赛市经济的三大支柱。
Marseille is the second largest city in France and the third metropolitan area，with 1，516，340 inhabitantsinhabitant n.居民，居住者 at the 1999 census. Located in the former province of Provence and on the Mediterranean Sea，it is France，s largest commercial port and the largest in the Mediterranean.
Bustling Marseille，with more than a million inhabitants，is the secondlargest city in France (its population surpassedsurpass vt.超越，胜过 that of Lyon in the early 1990s) and France，s premier port. It，s been called France，s New Orleans. A crossroads of world trafficDumas called it “the meeting place of the entire world”the city is ancient，founded by Greeks from the city of Phocaea，near presentday Izmir，Turkey，in the 6th century B.C.Marseille is a place of unique sounds，smells，and sights. It has seen wars and much destruction，but trade has always been its raison d，êtreraison d，être n.〈法〉存在的目的或理由.
Perhaps its most common association is with the national anthem of France，“La Marseillaise”. During the Revolution，500 volunteers marchedmarch n.行军，步伐，进行曲 vi.进军，前进 vt.使行军，使行进 n.(March)三月，略作Mar to Paris，singing this rousing song along the way.