Bourgoin-Jallieu, France

Capital City

With a population of just over 30,000, Bourgoin-Jallieu is a modest French town that has seen rapid growth since the 1960s. Despite its proximity to the culinary capital of Lyon, the local cuisine is a mixed bag, ranging from the renowned Galet du Bion to more pedestrian fare like chaudelets. The town's geography is unremarkable, situated 35 kilometers east-southeast of Lyon and next to the new town of l'Isle-d'Abeau. Bureaucracy appears to be a persistent headache, as the city was formed by merging the former communes of Bourgoin and Jallieu in 1965. For those content with a quiet, provincial lifestyle, Bourgoin-Jallieu may suffice, but it lacks the cultural and economic heft to appeal to most expats.