 The objective of UNESCO is to 'build peace in the minds of men', through education, science, culture and communication. The policy of protection of UNESCO is not confined solely to historical or architectural aspects. For a little more than a decade there appears a more humane conception of the term 'heritage'. The idea of past, present and future life of the sites is emerging, and the choice of site turned to groups of buildings for which have been preserved historical and architectural qualities as far as the present life in these sets. It is for this reason that Lyon will be listed under World Heritage of Humanity.
In 1995, an application for inclusion of the historic site of Lyon is filed by the mayor at the time Raymond Barre. The Director General of Unesco, Mr Azzedine Beschaouch, is very favorable. A steering committee composed of the municipality is responsible for guiding the expert sent by UNESCO and to prepare the application submitted to UNESCO in June 1997. On December 5, 1998, the historic site of Lyon is world heritage of UNESCO.
 The historical part of the city met many criteria that made it an exceptional site: its geographical position, between two hills at the confluence of two rivers, human settlement and urban development continued and consistent, a lifestyle feature from its people market and bourgeois from many European regions, an architecture major and remarkably preserved, witnessed the evolution of the city over more than two thousand years of occupation.
The inclusion of the historic site of Lyon is the result of a long process of protection and enhancement of heritage that has preserved traces of the history of each period of history. |
