Entering France: The Confluence

The Rhône enters France with drama, joining with the Saône at Lyon in one of Europe's most significant river confluences. This meeting of waters has shaped Lyon's destiny for over two millennia. The Romans recognized the strategic importance of this confluence, establishing Lugdunum as the capital of Gaul.

Today, the Confluence district represents Lyon's vision for the future—a new eco-neighborhood built where industries once polluted the rivers. The transformation hasn't been without controversy. Long-time residents, many from immigrant communities who worked in the riverside factories, worry about gentrification.

"My parents came from Algeria to work in the chemical plants here," explains Malik Benayad, who runs a community organization in the Confluence. "The work was dangerous, the pollution terrible, but it was our neighborhood. Now it's all green buildings and expensive apartments. We fight to ensure the new Confluence includes everyone, not just the wealthy."