Saint-Etienne

It was in the C.19th that Saint-Etienne soared in importance and became one of the most industrialised towns in France. Metallurgy and coal-mining were then at their apogee. The coal-mining museum situated at the Puits Couriot (the Couriot pit), bears witness to this mining and working-class past. Reached by a mining cage, a reconstituted gallery retraces the evolution of the different coal-mining techniques. The museum also houses temporary exhibitions and conferences.
Another important industry associated with the recent history of Saint Etienne is the manufacture of arms. In the C.17th , Colbert, Louis XIVth’s bursar set up an arms factory in Saint-Etienne. The town was so excellent in its production that during the French revolution it was re-christened “Armstown”. In 1885, the various arms companies merged and gave birth to what became known as the “Manufacture Française d’Armes” the “Manu” for the people of the town. It enabled thousands of workmen to have jobs. In 1985, the “Manu” closed shop. All that is left today are the impressive buildings of the Cours Fauriel that shelters among other things, the Conference Centre and the Planetarium of the town.
Today the town is in economic decline but remains a crossroads of cultural life. The Esplanade de Saint-Etienne (formerly known as the Cultural Centre) welcomes a great number of lyrical representations, ballets and operettas. The Comédie de Saint-Etienne presents a great number of theatrical productions of quality. As for the Museum of Contemporay Art it is the spearhead of Saint-Etienne culture. It possesses one of the finest French collections of modern and contemporary art. It is constantly being enriched by important donations. There are 4000sq.m. of exhibition halls which enable you to admire the major works of the C20th . The town’s planetarium is one of the most successful in France. It proposes pedagogical shows for everyone retracing some of the mysteries of the universe.
To describe Saint-Etienne without mentioning the mythical Chaudron Vert (the Geoffroy Guichard stadium) would be a huge mistake. Indeed Saint-Etienne is irremediably synonymous with football. If you meet an inhabitant and you do not know that the “Verts” (green shirts) are the town’s team then beware…
Often ill-considered by the Lyons people (age old rivalry) Saint-Etienne will surprise you by its cultural effervescence and warm atmosphere.

Information: Tourist office: tel: 04 77 49 39 00

http://www.mairie-st-etienne.fr/