View of Lyon

This great French city achieved extraordinary prosperity in the 15th and 16th centuries thanks to its well-known trade fairs, which had up to four annual editions. The vitality of its commercial bourgeoisie made these fairs soon lead to an eminently financial activity, which would also be joined by booksellers, publishers and silk craftsmen. All of them contributed to making this city one of the richest in France and its fair one of the most important in Europe.