Description

Saint-Etienne –located at less than three hours from the main European cities- offers an ideal combination of leisure and cultural activities. Its tourism facilities have been designed to welcome visitors. Many kind of cultural events are held in this city, with significant exhibition centers and museums as well as top-level restaurants and accommodation services. With rich offers of art exhibitions, dance and theatre shows, conference centers and cinemas, this city in constant development awaits you with a wide offer, aiming at leisure as well as enjoying the significant cultural and historical features.

We would like to thank the Tourism Office of Saint-Etienne for the information and pictures provided.
Visit www.tourisme-st-etienne.com

Highlights

La Place du Peuple
It features an elegant neoclassic urban decoration that conserves a complex of houses dating from the 16th C; further, it presents four fountains ornamented with lions surrounding an Egyptian obelisk. Formerly, the Saint-Etienne fair was placed here, it was core of the old city.

Modern Art Museum
Due to its significant collections, this museum appears among the biggest national and international institutions specialized in modern and contemporary art. Second French collection of modern art with more than 15,000 works (paintings, sculptures, installations, drawings) by prestigious and emblematic artists like Picasso, Léger, Dubuffet, Stella, Kandinsky, Warhol, Polke, Arp, Richier, Calder, Oldenbourg, as well as amazing photographs. Further, it houses a collection of design pieces (over 900) -one of the most significant in France- by Eames, Le Corbusier, Prouvé.

Quartier des Ursules - Ursules District
Within this district, you can enjoy a complex of beautiful façades dating from the 19th C. The "Bourse du Travail" building was erected in 1902 and the municipal markets were built nearly 1870 in "Baltar" style.

La Place Jean Jaurès
Located in the core of the city and characterized by 19th C architecture -reformed in 1998-, this square is dominated by one of the newest French cathedrals. Further, it constitutes the main center for cultural activities. Here, you can find a cultural center, cinema, theatres, and many other centers for leisure and entertainment.

Church of Sainte-Marie
Located at the Rue E. Gervais, this church dates from the second half of the 19th C. However, it constitutes a clear example of the Neo- Byzantine style due to its architecture and iconography.

Le site Manufrance
Located in the Cours Fauriel, the Etienne Mimard factory was built by Lamaizière between 1893 and 1919. Giant symbol of industrial prosperity of the city, it became a convention location and business center. You can walk around the old areas of weapon production, which achieved during the revolution the nickname "Armeville".

The Mimard Palace
This is one of the most beautiful buildings of Saint-Etienne. It was the private mansion of Monsieur Mimard, who ordered to build the palace in 1893. It presents an amazing and wonderful neo- Renaissance façade.

La Gare de Châteaucreux – Châteaucreux Train Station
This station was built by the architect J. Bouvard. It is not a thick building as it is based on a hydraulic cylinder system. From this station –a real architectonic monument of those times- the first French train departed in 1827.