Top French Cities - Saint-Etienne at a glance (2024)

For more information, visit the Saint-Etienne Metropole Tourism Office at www.saint-etiennetourisme.com.

City region: Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes

Population & what they are called: 170,761 inhabitants (2014 census), called Stephanois

Access from Paris:

  • by road: about 5 h 30 min (345 miles) via the A71 autoroute de l'Arverne

  • by train: about 2 h 50 min by TGV from the Gare de Lyon

Famous native daughters & sons:

  • Bernard Lavilliers, singer

  • Alain Prost, racing car driver

  • Muriel Robin, actress and comic

Most distinctive and/or unique fact or trait (or little known fact):

  • Saint-Etienne is the only French UNESCO Creative City of Design and the second in Europe after Berlin.

  • Saint-Etienne has its own Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the same one who created the one in New York City, albeit a much smaller version, located on the Square Jules Ferry.

Notable sites:

  • Cité du Design – a symbol of the city, located in a former arms factory and now a place of creation, research, training and exhibition for design (citedudesign.col/en/home/)

  • Firminy, a Le Corbusier site – the largest architectural complex designed by Le Corbusier (sitelecorbusier.com/en/)

  • La Chartreuse de Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez – one of the most beautiful Carthusian monasteries, from the 13th century (saintecroixenjarez.com)

Top annual events:

  • Bienniale Internationale Design – one of the major international events dedicated to design, the largest of its kind in France (biennale-design.com)

  • Festival des 7 Collines – music, dance, circus, theater, cinema, artistic and cultural creativity from throughout the world (festivaldes7collines.com/en/)

  • Fête du Livre – one of the most important book festivals in France (fetedulivre.saint-etienne.fr)

Most notable museums:

  • Musée d’Art Moderne – one of the largest European collections of contemporary art and design (mam-st-etienne.fr)

  • Musée de la Mine – a discovery of the world of mining and miners (musee-mine.saint-etienne.fr)

  • Museum d'Art et d'Industrie – at the crossroads of art and history, of techniques and sciences (musee-art-industrie.saint-etienne.fr)

Culinary specialties:

  • râpée – grated potato and cheese galette, served with sarasson (a local seasoned fromage frais)

  • Fourme de Montbrison – a mild cow’s-milk cheese notable for its orange rind and cream-colored pâte streaked with blue mold

  • Nougamandine (or the wrapped version, called Nougastelle) – a popular local treat from Weiss chocolates: crunchy nougatine wafers with a hazelnut/almond praline filling and a green almond coating

Local wines & spirits:

  • Côte du Forez AOC wine – red and rosé wines whose grapes grow in the foothills of the Forez mountains

  • beer – look out for local beers from regional breweries like Brasserie de la Loire and Brasserie Stéphanoise

  • Badoit sparkling water – OK, not a wine or spirit, but still an internationally known bubbly drink with its natural source in Saint-Galmier, a few kilometers from Saint-Etienne

Shopping:

  • city center – as a design capital, Saint-Étienne has lots of local shops and businesses, many of which have been renovated with the help of designer and decorators, and the best of which are rewarded every year through the CommerceDesignSaint-Étienne competition (saint-etienne.fr/concours_commercedesign)

  • La Plateforme – shop which stocks objects linked with Saint-Étienne's history and activities

Most popular night spots:

  • The Club – festive and sparkling atmosphere in a trendy nightclub

  • Rue des Martyrs de Vingré – the street for nightlife: restaurants, bars and clubs for any kind of evening

  • Zenith concert hall – hosts major music and sports events

Local population’s favorite activities (or hangouts):

  • Stade Geoffroy-Guichard – soccer is a favorite activity, played in many parks, but also enjoyed on TV and live at the stadium, home of the local team, Les Verts, and France's first museum devoted to soccer, Musée des Verts (museedesverts.fr)

  • Lac Grangent – the port at Saint-Victor-sur-Loire is one the biggest inland leisure marinas in France, ideal for water sports

  • Parc du Pilat – perfect place for hiking, cycling (part of the city’s history since Paul de Vivie, a local, developed an early derailleur), skiing and more

Local industries:

  • design – from architecture to commerce to the urban environment, Saint-Etienne is steeped in design at every level

  • bicycles – bicycle wheel manufacturer Mavic is based in the city, as are frame manufacturers Motobécane and Vitus

  • start-ups – number one city in the Rhône-Alpes for the creation of start-ups

In Pop Culture:

  • White Wedding (Noce Blanche) – the 1989 movie by Jean-Claude Brisseau, with Vanessa Paradis, about forbidden love

About Top French Cities - www.francepresskit.com

Top French Cities is an association of 29 cities, from regional capitals like Bordeaux to important towns like Avignon and Versailles. They are perfect for young travelers, families and anyone else looking for fun and authentic French experiences that will fit their budget. Most of these cities are university towns with a youthful atmosphere, but all of them reflect the heritage and distinctive flavors of the regions to which they belong. Many are forward-looking too, with historic buildings repurposed to house contemporary art and activity centers like Les Docks in Marseille. Many have created or integrated new, modern museums to contrast with their classical, architectural heritage, like in Nimes, where the cutting-edge Museum of Roman Civilization (Musée de la Romanité) is located across from the historic Roman amphitheater, or in Nantes, where whimsical mechanical creatures are being created, or in the UNESCO World Heritage Site concrete city of Le Havre.

Top French Cities - Saint-Etienne at a glance (2024)

FAQs

Top French Cities - Saint-Etienne at a glance? ›

Saint-Etienne is the only French UNESCO Creative City of Design and the second in Europe after Berlin. Saint-Etienne has its own Statue of Liberty by Frédéric Auguste Bartholdi, the same one who created the one in New York City, albeit a much smaller version, located on the Square Jules Ferry.

Is Saint-Etienne, France worth visiting? ›

Saint-Etienne is a former industrial city whose economy revolved around mining. Now it's a place with an openly creative vibe, so much so that it has been declared a “City of Design” by UNESCO. From visiting museums to simply walking around the city, you will see art installations everywhere.

What is St Etienne France known for? ›

Known as the City of Design, Saint-Étienne is known for its creativity and modern architecture.

Is St. Etienne a nice place to live? ›

Saint-Étienne has so much to offer. Situated only a stone's throw from the Pilat Regional Natural Park, the Forez mountains and the gorges of the River Loire, the city is lucky to be close to the countryside and still able to offer everything that can be expected of a major cultural centre.

Is Saint-Etienne in the Loire Valley? ›

Saint-Étienne, city, capital of Loire département, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes région, east-central France, on the northeast border of the Massif Central.

Where is the most beautiful city in France? ›

1. Paris. Any list of the most beautiful places to visit in France should be topped with the fairest of all European capital cities, Paris. Known as the City of Light, Paris is a sparkling metropolis with astonishing architecture, world-renowned landmarks, and entire neighborhoods that feel like romantic movie sets.

What is the most visited town in France? ›

Paris is the most visited city in France and one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world. The city is known for its iconic landmarks, such as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre Museum, and Notre-Dame Cathedral.

Is Saint-Étienne a big city? ›

The City of Saint-Etienne is situated in the department of Loire, in the region of Rhône-Alpes in the East of France. The city is the third largest in the region, after Lyon and Grenoble and has a population of 205 000, this figures rises to 440 000 when the population of the surrounding communes are included.

What is the oldest French city in the world? ›

Founded c. 600 BC by Greek settlers from Phocaea, Marseille is the oldest city in France, as well as one of Europe's oldest continuously inhabited settlements. It was known to the ancient Greeks as Massalia (Greek: Μασσαλία, romanized: Massalía) and to Romans as Massilia.

Is Toulouse a good place for expats? ›

Toulouse is one of the French cities where life is good, and it attracts many students, professionals and expatriates. A favorite city to settle in due to its cultural richness, its geographical location and its economic dynamism, Toulouse attracts professionals from all over the world.

Is Marseille nice to live in? ›

Marseille offers an eclectic blend of history, culture, and scenic beauty that's hard to find elsewhere. With its vibrant markets, tasty cuisine, and breathtaking views, it's a city that will show you the best of French living.

Is Saint Cloud France a good place to live? ›

Saint-Cloud

It is also popular among expat families given the abundance of spacious houses with gardens, and the fact that it is home to two international schools, the American School of Paris and the International German School (Internationale Deutsche Schule Paris – iDSP).

What is Saint-Étienne famous for? ›

Long known as the French city of the "weapon, cycle and ribbon" and a major coal mining centre, Saint-Étienne is currently engaged in a vast urban renewal program aimed at leading the transition from the industrial city inherited from the 19th century to the "design capital" of the 21st century.

Is Saint-Étienne worth visiting? ›

Saint-Etienne is a industrial, undiscovered, and authentic city. It's a beautiful place to visit, too. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and nightlife.

What does Saint-Étienne mean in English? ›

(French sɛ̃tetjɛn ) noun usually abbreviated to: St-Étienne. a town in E central France: a major producer of textiles and armaments.

Is Saintes France worth visiting? ›

Saintes is the former Gallo-Roman capital of Saintonge. It is a favorite site for history lovers. It has been able to preserve its heritage over the centuries and has also been classified as a "City of Art and History".

Is Sainte Mere Eglise worth visiting? ›

Sainte-Mere-Eglise, Gateway to the landing beaches. Sainte-Mere-Eglise is the ideal starting point to discover the landing beaches and particularly Utah Beach in Sainte-Marie du Mont. Located ten miles from Carentan, it still bears traces of the Battle of Normandy, and more specifically of the Normandy landings.

Is Sainte Chapelle Paris worth visiting? ›

The chapel is famous for its stained-glass windows, holy relics, and concerts. Enshrined within the city's original, 13th-century Palais de Justice (Law Courts), this gem-like Holy Chapel is Paris' most exquisite Gothic monument, completed in 1248.

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