Wide panorama across the rooftops, Saône and city centre of Lyon, France.

. A broad elevated panorama takes in the historic centre of Lyon, France, from the hill of Fourvière. The River Saône curves across the foreground, crossed by bridges linking the old quarter with the central peninsula. Tightly packed buildings with warm terracotta roof tiles and pale façades create a dense urban pattern along the riverside streets. Several taller modern towers rise on the horizon in the direction of the Part-Dieu business district, forming a sharp contrast with the lower historic rooftops. Beyond the main cluster of city buildings, extensive residential neighbourhoods spread towards the distance under a hazy blue sky. Lyon developed around the confluence of the Saône and Rhône and contains historic districts on both sides of the rivers. Vieux Lyon lies immediately below Fourvière, retaining a network of narrow streets, Renaissance buildings and courtyards. The Presqu'île occupies the area between the two rivers and contains important civic, shopping and cultural streets. Part-Dieu is the principal modern business centre, marked in wider views by high-rise office towers. This vantage point brings several stages of Lyon's urban development into one scene, from the riverside historic centre to the commercial skyline and outer urban fabric. The watercourse, bridges, roofscape and distant tower silhouettes provide the principal reference points for understanding the city's geography. Nearer the river, the bridges and continuous lines of quayside buildings distinguish the Saône corridor from the distant high-rise commercial district.