St. Etienne

Saint Etienne is a city in eastern France in the Rhone-Alpes region, around 40 miles southwest of Lyon. During the French Revolution it became known as a town for arms manufacture, then later as a coal-mining centre, but today it is known for its production of cycles, and in the summer of 2005 the Tour de France passed through Saint Etienne.

A historic city, Saint Etienne has a number of museums, castles, and churches for tourists to visit, while the surrounding Massif Central region offers mountain walks and spectacular scenery.


Saint Etienne’s Historical Museum Saint Etienne Historical Museum is a good starting point to explore the city’s history, from the past to the present. The Mining Museum is built on the site of a 20th century mine, and visitors can go down into a mining shaft and experience what life was like for miners. The Modern Art Museum Modern Art Museum houses over 15,000 paintings, installations, and sculptures by famous contemporary artists, such as Pablo Picasso and Andy Warhol. The Resistance and Loire Deportation Memorial is dedicated to the resistance movement and those deported to concentration camps in World War II, and houses exhibits such as newspapers, prisoners’ clothes, and photographs.

One of the main attractions in the city is the Church of Saint Marie, which was built in the 19th century and is a fine example of Byzantine architecture. Another church worth a visit is the Notre Dame Church, which dates back to the 18th century and has a Jesuit-style façade that was constructed in the 19th century.

For outdoors enthusiasts, further afield from Saint Etienne is the Puy Dome, a volcano in the Puy mountain chain that is almost 1500 metres high. Good for hiking, it offers fantastic views of the surrounding mountainous area and lots of flora and fauna for nature lovers. It is also a popular location for hang-gliding.


The city centre has a number of shops and boutiques that sell souvenirs such as pictures and prints, clothes, and chocolates, amongst other things. The museums in Saint Etienne have tourist souvenirs for sale too.

Nightlife and Eating Out

Saint Etienne has a variety of food to offer visitors. For French cuisine, the restaurant at the Modern Art Museum, Chantegrill, and La Fourchette Gourmande all come highly recommended. There are some options for international cuisine, with Angkor Wat for Cambodian and Il Tranello for Italian worth trying.

The city centre has many bars and pubs, and some of the better-known ones include Loco Mosquito, The Albion, and Santa Clara.

Tourist Information

  • Tourist Office, 16 Avenue de la Liberation, 42 029 St Etienne
  • Telephone: +33 8 9270 0542
  • Website:


Saint Etienne’s airport is only served by domestic carriers. Most international visitors will fly into Lyon’s airport, and from there will take a train or bus into Saint Etienne.

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