Saint-Etienne, Home of the Cauldron (21 Enjoyable Festivals)

When you hear the name Saint-Etienne, the first thing that comes to mind is the AS Saint-Etienne football club (nicknamed The Greens), which has won the Ligue 1 a whopping ten times.

This French industrial city is taking steps toward becoming “the design capital” of the 21st century. For its entire lifespan, Saint-Etienne has been known as the city of “weapon, cycle, and ribbon.”

In the past decades, it has become a Town of Art and History in 2000. Since entering the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in 2010, the city has been shifting to become a City of Design. Its old Arms factory has become a Cité du Design design centre.

This French city in eastern central France has become important over the years. From the 16th century, it was mainly known for the arms manufacturing industry.

Later in the 17th century, it developed the manufacture of ribbons and pasementerie. The mining industry soon found its way through the town, followed by the bicycle industry.

The weather in Saint-Etienne is as you’d typically expect. It has warm, humid summers and some of the heaviest snowfalls in France during the winter season. This beautiful weather makes it worth a visit if you’re in the area, whether during the summer or holiday seasons.

Getting to Saint-Etienne

1. Fly in:

The nearest airport to Saint-Etienne is the Saint-Étienne —Bouthéon Airport, about 12 kilometres northwest of the city.

For example, if you’re in Paris, the fastest way to get to Saint-Etienne is by plane. You would travel the entire 410 kilometres from Paris to the city. A flight of about an hour and 5 minutes will usually cost you around 130 Euros. The most popular flight company is AirFrance.

2. Travel by train:

Train travel is an alternative to flying but doesn’t take the same amount of time as travelling by bus. A train ticket costs around 38 Euros.

The trip takes close to three hours, which isn’t an issue if you don’t want to splurge on a flight ticket, have some time on your hands, and would like to get to Saint-Etienne faster than a bus.

The train will mostly leave Paris from Gare de Lyon and arrive at Saint-Etienne’s main railway station, Gare de Saint-Étienne-Châteaucreux.

This railway station also offers high-speed services to Paris, Lyon, and other cities. The train from Paris to Saint-Etienne operates three times a day, though it is better to check the availability of such services while planning your trip.

3. By bus:

If you’re looking for the cheapest alternative to get to Saint-Etienne, via bus is the way. For the average ticket price of 15 Euros, you will take the ride from Paris to Saint-Etienne in about 7 hours.

The bus will mostly leave from Paris, Quai de Bercy (Bercy Seine) and arrive in Saint-Étienne, Gare SNCF. A notable bus company you can book a trip with is Flixbus.

While you can find good price deals for these travel options a week before your trip from Paris to Saint-Etienne, booking months in advance is more advisable if your trip itinerary is all planned.

How about we get to know Saint-Etienne together?

Many people wonder if Saint-Etienne is worth a visit. It might be surprising that many people don’t perceive Saint-Etienne as a tourist destination. However, this design pinnacle city has various museums, monumental buildings, an agenda of events, and natural sites to lure you in.

1. La Cathedrale Saint-Etienne (Saint-Étienne Cathedral):

The construction of this neo-gothic-style cathedral has been forcibly stopped several times. Dedicated to St. Charles Borromeo, which was an indirect appreciation of the then King Charles X. The idea was initially born in 1830 to accommodate the city’s growing industrial importance.

Initially, a small chapel was built, after which secularist authorities continued obstructing the plans for a bigger church. The first stone of the great church was blessed on 3 November 1912, only for works to stop due to the start of the First World War and set to begin in 1919.

The funds assigned for the project were downsized because of the war and inflation that hit the country. The original cathedral that was built is much less extravagant than what was first planned. It remains unfinished until today, though it was elevated to cathedral status in 1970.

Top 7 Things to do in Nice, France – Top Places, Free Activities

2. Eglise Sainte Marie:

A neo-Byzantine church, it was built on the site of the ancient convent of the Visitandines in 1622. It once acted as a prison then as a depot, it went back to its original purpose at beginning of the 19th century. Preserved in this church is a relic of the Holy Thorn of the Crown of Christ.

3. Chapelle de La Charité:

This chapel, which displays impressive woodwork, is part of the building known as La Charité. It was created in 1764 to keep the needy out of the city.

4. Saint-François-Régis Church:

Built to venerate Saint Jean-François Régis, a 17th-century missionary nicknamed “The Apostle of Velay and Vivarais,” the current church was built in the same spot. Three churches preceded it, all dedicated to Saint François.

The first one was built in 1858 but was demolished in 1924 for being too small, with plans to build a bigger one. The second one was built in 1910, but most of it was destroyed by bombs in 1944. The bell tower and the sacristy survived and were included in the construction of the third church, which was demolished in 1972.

5. Saint-Pierre (Saint Peter):

It was initially designed as a Roman Catholic church. It is located in the town of Firminy, which is 13 kilometres southeast of Saint-Etienne by train. It is a one-of-a-kind concrete building with its walls looking up at the sky.

Construction began in 1971, but due to political conflicts, work was halted from 1975 to 2003, when the building was declared architectural heritage. The local government finished the construction of the building, which has been used for several purposes, such as a secondary school and a shelter, and is now used as a cultural venue.

In the 2010 World Architectural Survey, held by Vanity Fair magazine, the building was voted second among the top structures built in the 21st century.

6. Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporain (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art):

Also known as MAMC, this museum has the most unique collection in France. Located on Rue Fernand Léger, the museum has a stunning 3,000 square meters of show space. It consists of 10 showrooms that display the museum’s collection and 14 other showrooms used yearly for temporary exhibitions following specific themes or known artists.

This museum houses more than 19,000 works of art, mainly from the 20th century and some from ancient times. Some examples are works by Claude Monet and Pablo Picasso, some iconic pieces, and a series by Pierre Soulages.

Collections such as Minimalism and German Art of the 1980s are some of the collections showcased in the museum. Since many essential pieces can be loaned to other museums worldwide, 600 works each year, it’s not always possible to see them. The museum has a restaurant that is open at midday.

7. Saint-Étienne Mine Museum:

Since the mining industry significantly increased Saint-Etienne’s importance, a mining museum in the city is somewhat of a given. The museum was founded in 1991 on the site of the last coal mine in the city and registered as a historical monument in 2011.

In December 2014, the museum inaugurated three exhibitions to showcase a part of its collections: The Figure of the Miner, The Great History of Couriot, and Six Centuries of Coal Adventures.

The museum is a show mine, meaning you can visit a reconstructed gallery and historical buildings of the mine. Rooms such as The Grand Lavabo, the main washroom, and the compressor room are among the sites you can visit.

8. Musée d’Art et d’Industrie (Museum of Art and Industry):

This museum is to discover the three ways of the city of Saint-Etienne; weapons, cycles and ribbons. You can explore the evolution of ribbon making since the 16th century, the preparatory work of silk and the intricate art ribbon makers produced.

In six main themes, you will get acquainted with the history of the bicycle, which witnesses human practices and social developments. The history of small arms production in the city of Saint-Etienne is explained by highlighting the social function of the object, and multimedia is used to make the process much easier. The course is marked by developments in firing systems and by weapons representative of the design of each era.

The museum is open every day except Mondays from 10 am to 6 pm. The ticket offices close at 5 pm, while the theatres close at 5:45 pm. A guided tour costs 7.50 E or 5.50 E at a reduced price. The museum allows you to book your ticket up to 15 days before your visit, but the reservation closes the day before.

If you’re a group wishing to spend the day at the museum, you can request a picnic room set up, which you ask when making your reservation. On 29 April 2018, the Musée du Vieux Saint-Etienne, or the Museum of Old Saint-Etienne, was permanently closed, and all its arts and artefacts were transferred to the Museum of Art and Industry.

9. Place Jean Jaures:

The square has been the centre of Saint-Etienne since the 19th century. It is partly located in the gardens of the nuns of Sainte-Catherine and partly on the land that once belonged to Saint-Etienne’s former mayor. This beautiful square is adorned with flowers and has a pool, games, fountains, statues, a merry-go-round, and even a bandstand created by Louis Mazerat.

Due to its majestic buildings and local shops, it is considered one of the most upscale districts of the city. Several buildings outlining this square, beside Saint-Charles Cathedral, are worth noticing. The Hôtel de la Préfecture, which currently houses government offices, was inaugurated in 1902.

Many sculptures and a helmeted bust of the goddess Athena adorn the building, while the south façade summarizes the great moments in the Loire’s history. The Condition des Soies building has been a registered historic monument since 2002, and its construction was finished in 1910. Until 1962, technical and regulatory operations related to the ribbon industry were performed in this building. Building Loire Republican was built as a headquarters for the newspaper La Loire Republican.

10. La Cité du Design:

Built in 2009 on the city’s former arms factory, this design biennale is the largest in France. For two weeks every two years, many architectural works and exhibition galleries are displayed.

The building’s architectural style is an example of industrial-era architecture. The museum has exhibition halls, libraries, an auditorium, and a restaurant. You can walk from Town Hall Square to this exhibition fiesta in about 15 minutes.

11. Stade Geoffroy-Guichard:

Wouldn’t you want to check out this massive building nicknamed Le Chaudron or The Cauldron? You can imagine how intense the atmosphere can be during a game inside. It is one of the most notable buildings in Saint-Etienne, home to the city’s football team, AS Saint-Etienne.

The stadium, built on land purchased by Geoffroy Guichard, is also known as “The Green Hell” as a reference to the green colour worn by the football team. Opened on 13 September 1931, AS Saint-Etienne’s first game was on 17 September of the same year. The stadium is home to the “Musee des Verts” or Museum of the Greens, which tells the history of Saint-Etienne. Guided tours are also available to book.

The museum opens from Tuesday to Sunday from 2 pm to 6 pm and on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays from 10 am to 12 pm. Tours run multiple times a week and about three times a day. The ticket to the museum is 7 E, which goes up to 15 E for the guided tour and visit to the museum.

In addition to football matches, several tournaments, including the 1998 FIFA World Cup and the 2003 FIFA Confederations Cup, were held there.

It’s worth noting that for a ticket of 20 Euros per year, you can have free access to Cité du Design, Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, Saint-Étienne Mine Museum and the Musée d’art Moderne et Contemporain.

As the capital of the Loire department, Saint-Etienne is surrounded by nature. Two nature sanctuaries offer places to relax and meditate.

1.    Parc Naturel Régional du Pilat (Pilat Regional Park):

Situated on the road between Lyon and Saint-Etienne, this countryside, full of mountains, is the perfect gateway from the city. Grab your camera as you spend the day cycling through the cycle trails or enjoying the view on a car ride.

A sweet taste of adrenaline and adventure will fill your lungs as you hike up the 1,430 meters to get to the top of Crêt de la Perdrix. As you look down from the peak, you are guaranteed to lose yourself in the vastness of the meadows and hills.

2.    Gorges de la Loire Nature Reserve:

This breathtaking piece of nature, created in 1988, was declared a natural reserve in 1999. You will get to explore the vast landscape, the villages tucked away in the folds of nature, and the architectural heritage around which this nature reserve was created.

Many activities allow you to explore the beauty of this privileged environment. You can go hiking in different landscapes and discover local villages with their churches and castles. You can relax on the beach of St. Victor and forget about everything.

Discover France – ConnollyCove

Events and Festivals in Saint-Etienne

Several events occur in Saint-Etienne, which you can catch if you want to change from sightseeing all day. Almost every month, a new event takes place in the city.

1.    Winter Jazzeries Festival (January):

This festival is for all jazz lovers, and the Gaga Jazz Association offers quality programs to entertain lovers of this form of music.

2.    Arcomik Festival:

If you seek laughter, this festival is the one for you. It is one for famous and amateur comedians to try to make you laugh.

3.    Spring of the Poets (March):

Poets from various cultural backgrounds combine the same poetic dynamic to design a rich program that draws people in. Poetry comes to you from the bends of the streets, bookstores, museums, cafes, and many other public venues.

4.    Festival Pass Musiques (March):

For reasonably low prices, the Office Musicale of Saint-Étienne tries to bring you quality concerts from classical to contemporary vocal music to French and foreign folklore. This festival is mainly for amateur musicians.

5.    Curious Travelers Festival Trotting (March):

This festival will teach you how to travel our beautiful globe while keeping our earth safe.

6.    Massenet Festival (March):

A musical festival that takes place every two years is dedicated to the French composer Jules Massenet and is near where the composer was born. This festival might have officially begun in November 1990, and the two famous operas, Cléopâtre and the oratorio La Vierge, were played.

But the fact is that an unofficial festival was held in 1988, where Massenet’s Amadis was played. The festival received colossal success, so organizers sought funding for a more permanent festival. The good news is that all the festival performances before 1995 were released on audio CD.

7.    International Biennale of Design (6 April to 31st July – odd years only):

This festival takes place in the building of the former arms factory in Saint-Etienne. The boutique in this place is open from Tuesday to Friday from 10 am to 12:30 pm and from 1:30 pm to 6 pm. This boutique offers a colourful array of books, creations from young designers, and objects from designers, creators and innovative companies.

Editions from Cité du Design and journals such as Azimuts, edited by the establishment’s postgraduate students, rest on the shelves. You can order these editions and journals from their online shop.

8.    Museum Night (May):

This festival allows you to discover more of the charms of the museums in Saint-Etienne. The Museum of Art and Industry, Modern Art and Saint-Étienne Mine Museum. This discovery trip is free, and you are taken on a journey that offers a different perspective on heritage.

9.    Lyrics and Music Festival (June):

Young artists join famous artists to bring to you concerts sponsored by the Stéphanois meeting place for French songs. Writing workshops and concerts are set up at Maison d’Arrêt. Musical meetings are held in primary schools, and readings occur throughout the city.

10. Trax Festival (June):

If you want to make a move, this festival is for you. It is dedicated to the lovers of hip-hop dance in all its forms. Performers gather from all over France to perform and compete.

11. Les Before de Couriot (July/ August):

The city has a music festival every Wednesday and Friday in the summer. Different forms of music are played at concerts everywhere.

12. 7 Hills Festival (July/ August):

This colourful festival showcases the perfect mix of theatre, dance, music, cinema, and circus.

13. Roches Celtiques A (Festival of the Celtic – July/ August):

A celebration of Celtic music and dance, this festival takes place for a weekend in Saint-Victor-sur-Loire, Saint-Etienne and Rochetaillée.

14. BWD12 Festival:

For five days, musicians and the public share the intimacy of chamber music and its treasures around instrumental compositions ranging from duet to sextet in the enchanting setting of the green theatre of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire.

15. European Heritage Days (Third weekend in September):

Every year, at the same time, places of history and heritage that are otherwise closed to the public are open, offering guided tours.

16. Book Festival (3rd weekend in October):

For three days, Saint-Etienne transforms into one vast open-air bookstore. The festival began in 1986 and is a haven for all book lovers to mingle and get to know the authors who like to participate.

17. Fête de la science (October):

This festival has a national dimension. Many scientific workshops and events are held. After this event, you will never look at science the same way again.

18. Village des Sciences (October):

The City of Saint-Étienne, Saint-Chamond and La Rotonde organize this event. This event offers a playful and participatory discovery space that offers young and old alike an abundance of workshops and meetings, shows, and inventive scientific meetings.

19. Pléiades, Digital Arts Festival (5th to 9th of November):

The Sainté Shopping Merchants Association, in partnership with the City of Saint-Étienne, invite you to discover digital and interactive sound and visual works. The multiple works presented will amuse you, amaze you and invite you to rethink our world and its connections.

20. Positive Education (November):

This festival fills the city of Saint-Étienne with electronic music, jungle, bass music and techno.

21. Sainte-Barbe (Every Saturday in December):

Saint-Étienne keeps its tradition with this festival, where the young and old join the parade from the Place de l’Hotel de Ville to the Puits Couriot / Parc-musée de la Mine, which hosts a great pyrotechnic show. On this occasion, the Mine Museum is open for free.

During the whole of December, Christmas markets are set up all around Saint-Étienne. You wouldn’t want to miss visiting this evolving city at any time of the year.

With lively and most definitely enjoyable festivals all year round, how about you add the home of “The Cauldron” to the list of cities to visit?