HOST METROPOLIS

Wednesday 03 March, 2021

· 5 min read

Saint-Étienne

Stade Geoffroy Guichard – Information and access

Saint-Étienne Rugby Village – Information and access

Saint-Étienne is France's only UNESCO city of design. Follow us as we discover the places not to be missed. Rather a fan of sport? You've come to the right place: the people of Saint-Étienne are passionate about sport, and cherish their Geoffroy-Guichard stadium, which will be buzzing with rugby in September.

DISCOVER SAINT-ÉTIENNE

CITÉ DU DESIGN

Welcome to Saint-Étienne's creative district. It's bubbling with ideas and cultural offerings around every corner: music, theatre, art... And all of this around the Cité du Design, the district's must-see venue. Formerly a weapons factory, it has reinvented itself, offering a place where start-ups and students from the Saint-Étienne School of Art and Design can meet. And for visitors, there's no way round the exhibition dedicated to design: Histoires d'intérieurs - Collection design du MAMC+.

More information: https://www.saint-etienne-hors-cadre.fr/en/la-collection/design-is-given-the-freedom-of-the-cite/

Location
3, rue Javelin Pagnon
42 000 Saint-Étienne

Access
Tramway line T2 – Stop at the terminus
Bike - Vélivert
25’ walk from Châteaucreux station
15’ walk from the Rugby Village

SITE LE CORBUSIER

The Site Le Corbusier is a crazy project. A stone's throw from Saint-Étienne, in Firminy, this site is a treat for connoisseurs and the curious alike: a Habitation Unit with multicoloured streets, a cone-shaped church, a UNESCO-listed Maison de la Culture concave, an amphitheatre-style stadium and a swimming pool. The second largest complex designed by Le Corbusier is not to be missed. A particular highlight is the exhibition on the theme of "Let’s move in the city! Sport & architecture for tomorrow" (until 14 January, 2024).

More information: https://sitelecorbusier.com/en/news/exhibitions/

Location
Boulevard périphérique du Stade
42700 Firminy

Access
Train – Stop: Gare de Firminy (Firminy Station)
Bus line M1 – Stop: Église Le Corbusier
By car – A4 or A72 / RN88 / exit « Firminy Centre »

PILAT REGIONAL NATURE PARK

In Saint-Étienne, it's easy to get away from it all: 10 minutes from the city centre and you're already in the heart of the Pilat Regional Nature Park. There's no shortage of activities in the hills above the park, including canoe-trekking, off-road scootering and, for the more adventurous, via ferrata and paragliding. The Pilat is also home to one of France's Most Beautiful Villages: Sainte-Croix-en-Jarez, a former 14th-century monastery that has now become a village. And to cool off, a trip to the Gorges de la Loire is a must!

More information: https://www.pilat-tourisme.fr/en

Location
Pilat Regional Nature Park

Access
Region’s buses lines L12, L14 or L17
Bus STAS Line 80
By car – D8 and D63

REGION AUVERGNE RHÔNE-ALPES

Château de la Bâtie d’Urfé
Saint-Étienne Le Molard

An emblematic castle in the Loire department, La Bâtie d'Urfé is now famous for its mid-sixteenth-century decorative ensemble comprising an artificial grotto and a chapel, largely created by Italian artists. The French-style gardens are a delight to wander around and you can linger on the terrace of the restaurant at the entrance of the site.

More information: https://www.batiedurfe.fr/jcms/lw_1395657/en/home

The Hat Museum
Chazelles-sur-Lyon

Renowned as the French capital of rabbit-hair felt hats since the time of the Crusades, Chazelles-sur-Lyon pays tribute to this unique expertise at the Atelier-Musée du Chapeau. The museum tells the story of the hat-making heritage by showcasing the different stages in the manufacture of felt hats. In 2023, the museum celebrates its 40th anniversary!

More information: http://www.museeduchapeau.com/english.html

Gorges de la Loire
Chambles

Just a few kilometres from its source, between the Velay and Forez plains, the Loire has carved out some magnificent gorges. It's a 4,000-hectare reserve on the outskirts of Saint-Étienne, where different natural environments come together. A wide range of water sports, hiking, climbing and typical villages are all on the programme.

More information: https://www.gorgesdelaloire.fr/en/

Sainte-Croix en Jarez Carthusian monastery
Sainte-Croix en Jarez

Behind its fortress-like appearance, the Sainte Croix Carthusian monastery is the only example of a former monastery transformed into a charming little village, which has been awarded the Village de Caractère label and is part of the network of the Most Beautiful Villages in France. From the Cour des Pères to the Cour des Frères, from the churches to the old kitchens and the reconstructed hermitage of a Carthusian Father, the monastery reveals its treasures: wall paintings, 14th-century choir stalls and a fortified façade.

More information: https://chartreuse-saintecroixenjarez.com/en/home/

Château de la Roche
Saint-Priest la Roche

Its destiny is linked to the Loire River: anchored on its rocky outcrop since the 13th century, Château de la Roche becomes, depending on the mood of the river, sometimes a defensive rock, sometimes a romantic island. Its improbable location on the Loire makes it an emblematic site in the region, where you can enjoy theatralised guided tours or escape games.

Plus d’informations : https://www.lechateaudelaroche.fr/version-anglaise/