Saint-Etienne (in Arpitan Sant-Etiève , in gaga Sainté ) is a French city, located in the department of the the Loire and the area the Rhone-Alps. Its inhabitants is called the Stéphanois .

Various geography and data

The city is located on the Furan (or Furens), with the foot of the Pilat, approximately 67 km in the south-west of Lyon, 53 km of Vienna and 160 km of Grenoble, in the east. In the south, the Puy-en-Velay is to 81 km and the west distant Clermont-Ferrand of 147 km.

It is the second plus big city of altitude of Europe (approx. 176  000 hab. and until 1  117 m).

  • Saint-Etienne is the 14th town of France and the 2nd city of the area the Rhone-Alps behind Lyon.

It is the center of an urban area of 450.000 inhabitants which includes several close agglomerations (Valley of the Ondaine, Vallée of the Gier, Plaine of the Forez around Andrézieux-Bouthéon…)

The city is integrated into the RUL ( Urban Région of Lyon ) which corresponds to the territories organized around Lyon, Saint-Etienne, Roanne, Villefranche-sur-Saône, Borough-in-Bresse, Bourgoin-Jallieu…

  • 23 % of the population has less than 20 years.

  • Like Rome, Saint-Etienne is surrounded by 7 hills.

  • the agglomeration enjoys a 1937 hours per annum sunning.

  • It is the only big city of Europe which is on the Watershed between two seas: the Atlantic and the the Mediterranean

  • Saint-Etienne Métropole is the 2nd community of agglomeration of the area the Rhone-Alps, and the 6th community of agglomeration of France (43 communes, approximately 390  000 inhabitants, more 13  000 companies, including 146 of more than 100 paid).

  • Saint-Etienne is one of the three French cities to have preserved its tram without interruption since its first startup in 1885. Since it became a true institution, while rythmant the life of the Inhabitants of Saint-Etienne to the sound of his bell, it transports million travellers every year. A second line is in service since October 2006, it connects the downtown area to the railway station of Chateaucreux.

  • As in all the big cities of France, Saint-Etienne knows problems of circulation, the main roads of intramural circulations remain insufficient… A  72 is used as northern peripheral and is, N  88 of southern peripheral. However, of the actions were undertaken to cure these problems of circulation: creation of a second tram line (to reduce the place of the car in downtown area and to improve overall quality of life of the inhabitants of the hyper-center), creation of an urban boulevard surrounding the hypercentre, with installation of “doors” (17 on the whole) giving access to various sectors of the hyper-center. Lastly, the construction of a vast underground car park below the place Chavanelle (which is finished and accessible).

Communes bordering

Villars, Saint-Priest-in-Jarez, Turn-in-Jarez, Talaudière, Saint-Jean-Bonnefonds, Saint-Chamond, Valla-in-Gier, Bessat, Tarentaise, Saint-Genest-Malifaux, Planfoy (bordering on the common partner of Rochetaillée for these five last), Ricamarie, Rock-the-Molière and Saint-Genest-Lerpt.

Moreover, the “district” of the Saint-Victor-on-Loire, nonbordering on Saint-Etienne, has as communes bordering, in addition to Rock-the-Molière and Saint-Genest-Lerpt which establishes the link with Saint-Etienne, Saint-Just-Saint-Rambert, Chambles, Caloire and Unieux.

Limits of the city

The city increased on several occasions, annexing the following communes:

Administrative cuttings

See also: District of Saint-Etienne

Two zip codes are served what indicates the division of the city in two districts:

  • Northern Saint-Etienne (Northern Northern West/Is + Center Town): 42000

  • Southern Saint-Etienne (+ Rochetaillée & the Saint-Victor-on-Loire): 42100

Climate

See also: climatic Data and temperatures of Saint-Etienne

Climatic data in Saint-Etienne of 1947 to 2001 (to click on the chart of France).

Administration

See also: Administration of Saint-Etienne, List of the mayors of Saint-Etienne

Twinnings

Demography

Transport and infrastructures

Highways and trunk roads

See also: Ring road of Saint-Etienne

Has 47, free, is one of the most attended interurban highways France, the accidents are frequent, and saturation is very close. To solve this problem, the general advice of the Loire and the Chamber of commerce and industry of the Loire, of the high Loire and the Rhone recommend a second highway, the has 45, with toll, which would be made safe and adapted to the traffic. The opponents recommend the installation of the Piggyback traffic for goods transport between Saint-Etienne and Lyon as well as the improvement of the existing rail link for the passenger traffic.

Airport

  • International airport Saint-Etienne the Loire: no regular airline company deserted this airport. Some connections Charter S.

Railway stations

  • Saint-Etienne - Châteaucreux: Connections daily TGV with Paris, direct or indirect connections with many cities.
  • Saint-Etienne - Carnot
  • Saint-Etienne - Bellevue
  • Saint-Etienne - the Rabbit burrow
  • Saint-Etienne - the Terrace

Urban transport

See also: Tram of Saint-Etienne, Shipping company of the Agglomeration Inhabitant of Saint-Etienne, Line of bus STAS

The STAS manages and exploits the urban grid system of Saint-Etienne and its agglomeration. It is charged to ensure the service of transport in a score of communes of the agglomeration inhabitant of Saint-Etienne.

The network is composed of 2 lines of Tram (11,6 km of lines), 60 regular lines, (4 of night) of which 65  % of the vehicles roll to clean energy (Trolleybus electric, drunk with the white gas oil).

The agglomeration adapted its ticketting in 2 zones of displacements:

  • the zone Large Saint-Etienne.
  • the zone Large Gier.
and to connect both
  • Saint-Etienne Metropolis all zones.
  • the range Oùra makes it possible FOR THE THIRD TIME to use (in 10 stations of the agglomeration) and public transport at will on the territory of the agglomeration.

Economy

History

Historically, the city developed with:
  • the Royal Manufacture of Weapons
  • the coal mines
  • the Cycle industry
  • the Ribbon manufacture.

The city known in second half of the 20th century of many reorganizations and closings in its industrial sphere. After the closing of Manufrance, coal mines, larger part of GIAT industries (the optical activity remaining in place), and the difficulties of the Cycle industry, Saint-Etienne was described like a city in danger. Its economic activity knows a revival today, thanks to local and regional initiatives of pole of innovation, artistic events, and of reinforcement of its economic influence. The situation of the trade in downtown area also improves.

Agroalimentary

Seek

  • the Health (hospital, private clinics, old people's homes), in particular with a new hospital pole replacing the " Wall of China ".
  • the pole of Medical technologies which gather a third of the potential of the Rhone-Alps in medical technologies.
  • the pole of water and the environment which federates more than 150 partners to competences diversified and complementary in the sector of the environment and water treatment.
  • Métrotech : A technological park dedicated firstly to linked activities with biomedical, advanced mechanics, optics vision and the higher tertiary sector. This park of 30 hectares will have the role of accommodating uses with high Added-value in these key dies.

Businesses

  • the quoted of the businesses of Châteaucreux on a surface of 40 ha including 250.000 m ² of offices in the south and the north of the station TGV, connected to the downtown area by the tram. The world head office of the Groupe Casino is the spearhead of the tertiary pole in becoming (with an entire surface of 50.000 m ² joining together the 13 current sites of the group).
  • District of Center Two where the greatest shopping mall of the agglomeration, the School inspectorate of the Loire or the 3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of Social security (EN3S) are found.
  • the Design celebrated since a few years already with the international Biennial of the Design. This field besides will be reinforced with construction on the old site of the GIAT of the Cité of the design.

Trade

List principal shopping malls of Saint-Etienne and its agglomeration:
  • regional Shopping mall Center-Two: Auchan, C&A, Go Sport,… (100 shops)
  • Shopping mall of the Door of Drill: Auchan, Decathlon, Subparagraph,…
  • Monthieu Shopping mall: Giant Casino, Ikea,…
  • Shopping mall Ricamarie: Giant Casino, Brico Deposit,…

Industry

  • the Optical with in particular the “optical Pole and vision”.
  • the firm Focal (or JMLab), the largest French manufacturer of loudspeakers and speaker with Talaudière.
  • the Center Industrial European of Capital equipment which gathers 1300 companies in mechanics and surface treatments, research as well as higher education.
  • Saint Etienne is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Saint-Etienne/Montbrison which manages the Aéroport of Saint-Etienne - Bouthéon.

Projects of the municipality

Candidate city under European capital of the culture 2013

Saint-Etienne postulated under European Capitale of the culture in 2013. Hundreds of people work around this candidature since the beginning of the year 2007. November 15th, 2007, the file will be examined by a jury. In 2008, the preselected cities will have at the end of the year to polish their candidature before a last oral examination. The file is under the direction of Anne-Marie Castay.
The town of Clermont-Ferrand joins the candidature. As well as town of Banska Bystrica, candidate for the Slovakia, which tied a partnership with Saint-Etienne.
Four general sets of themes were defined:
  • concrete Utopias: takes as a starting point the Utopias by yesterday which are carried out to imagine the Utopias of tomorrow.
  • City-nature: nature is put in scene. It is exaltée in all its aspects and it is expressed downtown, with mineral.
  • Metamorphoses: a city moving or all changes, a city liked by its inhabitants and a new image for outside.
  • Flow and exchanges: Art, science and innovation: 3 historical pillars and with a future for Etienne Saint, a rich city of its crossings and its cohabitation.

Various demonstrations will be organized to mobilize the population in 2007.

Urban project

Saint-Etienne 2015 is a great operation of town planning which relates to more than 970 hectares, of the downtown area, the district of Carnot, Châteaucreux, the Plain Achilles, the Couriot site, of Monthieu, where the stake is the renewal of the habitat, the framework of life, the services and the economic development and commercial of the city.
  • the Zenith of Saint-Etienne will be born into 2007/2008 of a capacity of 7200 places, with very daring architecture.
  • Construction of large a district business in the district of Châteaucreux, where Casino (inter alia) built its new head office.
  • Construction of an international Quoted of the design on the site of the old munitions factory (ex-GIAT), destroyed partly.
  • Realization of a room of current musics (SMAC) " Fil" to reinforce the cultural offer.
  • the Tower Full Sky (district of Montreynaud) should not dominate the city in any more 2008.
  • Modernization, reorganization and extension of the Purification plant of Porchon to clearly improve water quality of the agglomeration, to cleanse Furan.
  • Like many of other projects of scale less important (housing construction, demolition of old judged buildings " insalubres" , economic projects, embellishment of places and streets, " setting in valeur" inheritance,…).
  • Refitting and development of the site Couriot (old coal mine) in order to transform it into true cultural and tourist place.
  • Installation of the THIMBLE (Western Skirting of Saint-Etienne) which will be a fast section 2x2 ways going from Villars to Firminy.
  • Construction of the carpark of the Law courts for the end of the year 2008.

Let us note that some of these projects are also on the initiative of Saint-Etienne Métropole, of the General advice of the the Loire, the area the Rhone-Alps and the State.

History

Name of the city

The legend reports that at time Romans, the village bore the name of Furanum , of the name of the Furan, the river which crosses it. This name would have changed into Furania, name which it would have carried until the Moyen-âge.

The first hard copies (in 1258) of the city mention Sancti Stephani de Furano (Saint-Etienne de Furan).

The city being known for its arms factories, it was temporarily famous Armeville or Commune of Weapons during the French revolution.

It took also the name of the Saint-Etienne-on-Loire of 1969 to 1970 during the fusion of the communes of Saint-Etienne and the Saint-Victor-on-Loire.

Heraldic

The Middle Ages

The first traces of the human occupation on the site of Saint-Etienne go up with the construction of the castle of Saint-Priest in 1167.

But the first writings which names the city Sanctus Stephanus de Furano - Saint-Etienne of Furan go back to creation the abbey of Valbenoîte rested by the count Guy II of Drill at the 12th century.

The Guerre One hundred Year old did not save Saint-Etienne and the abbey of Valbenoîte which was ransacked in 1359 by the " Latecomers " English. To fight against these invasions, the abbot Hugues de Torrenche undertook to strengthen the village.

The village concentrates then around the Large Church with ramparts protecting the city. (The " tower of the droguerie" on the current place of the People was built at the 16th century in the vicinity immediate of the old Door of the Ramparts.)

With the arrival of new inhabitants, the strengthened village was too exiguous and a suburb settled around the walls with the " Pre of Foire" (place of the People). The city then counted more 3.000 people at the end of the 15th century.

The modern time

At the beginning of 1570, the city is taken by the admiral de Coligny, during the Third war of religion.

As of the 15th century, it constituted an important center of metallurgical production (knives, then firearms as of the Guerres of Italy of François Ier). Arms manufacture will make the fame of the city with the production of weapons of war (or trade) by more than 600 arms manufacturers (in 1669) but also of small metallurgy, with the very varied production, called " clincaillerie " hardware.

It developed also the manufacture of ribbons imported of Italy (Rubanerie that one should not confuse with the Passementerie) as of the 16th century. Thanks to the importance of its industrial activity the city at the 17th century century sheltered: 20000 inhabitants.

Since 1720, the inhabitants of Saint-Etienne usually use the coal and in 1790, the production reaches already: 200000 tons. This fuel will be used to feed the first steam engines. The coal basin being near two navigable rivers, the the Rhone and the the Loire, it was desirable to connect the mines to these rivers by an economic loader-gate.

The revolutionary period made it possible the municipality to buy grounds of the Clergé. From there is born a new plan from the city, established by the architect Pierre-Antoine Dalgabio in 1792. The town of Saint-Etienne until was then directed East-West according to the road of Lyon (see: Street of Lyon) to the Puy-en-Velay. This new plan directed the North-South city according to the road Paris - Annonay, creating a new way which gradually will be linked to form the Grand' street.

Saint-Etienne was a long time a secondary city, less influential - on the administrative and political level - that Montbrison, which was prefecture before it, and even as Feurs, chief town of the the Loire of 1793 with 1795. It is only in 1855 that Saint-Etienne, because of its rapid industrial development and demographic, became chief town of the department.

At the time of the Industrial revolution developed to with it the heavy metallurgy trades and the massive exploitation of the coal mines. In same time, Saint-Etienne had become the world capital of the ribbon in spite of the competition of Basle.

The contemporary time

See also: Carboniferous of the Loire, Royal Manufacture of Weapons, Ribbon manufacture, Line of Saint-Etienne - Andrézieux, Historical of the ADZE

At the beginning of the 20th century, the industry of the weapon was dominated by the Munitions factory of Saint-Etienne (FARMHOUSE) for the military material, and the French Manufacture of weapons and cycles (Manufrance) as well as many craftsmen for civil rifles. In spite of the closing of Manufrance, there remain still some craftsmen. May 5th 1821, Louis-Antoine Beaunier request the concession of a long Railway of Saint-Etienne in Andrézieux of almost 18 km. Louis XVIII grants the concession on February 26th 1823 of the first rail network of continental Europe. This first line, only intended for the goods tractor drawn by horses, ends in the boats of the Loire, the port of Andrézieux. Coals, intended to be embarked on this river, left bound for the Center, of the West or the North of France.

In Saint-Etienne, on October 27th 1824, the government delivered the first concession mining.

In 1827, it was the startup, between St-Etienne and the Loire, in Andrézieux, of the first French railroad, then the construction of the St-Etienne line - Lyon. The steam traction replaced the animal haulage quickly, thanks to the engineer Marc Seguin. Formerly penalized by its enclavement, the area inhabitant of Saint-Etienne thus knew an economic advancement and demographic extraordinary. Four years later, in 1831, a line of travellers was created, connecting Roanne to Saint-Etienne and Lyon.

Barthélemy Thimonnier designed the first Sewing machine there in 1830.

1832 - Marc Seguin marked of his print the construction of the second railway line Saint-Etienne/Lyon. The adoption in France of a transport system which he appreciated during his voyages in England appears essential him. During its voyage in England, it becomes acquainted with George Stephenson which builds then the line Darlington/Stockton. He asks the concession of the line Saint-Etienne/Lyon by the valley of Gier. This way of 57 km will facilitate the transport of the coal and the industrial products of this important mine field. It is Marc Seguin who obtains in 1826 the concession of this line. On this line, three intermediate landing stages are established with Givors, Bank-with-Gier, Saint-Chamond. Work on the whole of the line began in September 1826, before the approval of the tracé.
The section Givors/the Grand Cross was open on June 28th 1830, that of Givors to Lyon on April 3rd 1832 and finally that of Large Cross in Saint-Etienne on October 1st, 1832 for the travellers and on February 25th 1833 for the goods. The line is exploited at the same time by animal haulage and engine since the origin. On the other hand, it is only on August 1st 1844 which the first engine arrives at Saint-Etienne because of hard Rampe coming from Bank of Gier. The line will have been more expensive than envisaged because one built many works of art in a badly known basement.

One can add that a little later always in 1833, was conceded in the same department the first Tramway with French vapor making the connection Montbrison/Montrond. It is the first railway posed on road, assigned to passenger transport and goods. It was brought into service in 1838.
In 1881, it is the startup of the network St Etienne Firminy Bank-of-Gier (65 km) as well as the first line of Tramway of Saint-Etienne.

1885: Etienne Mimard, arms manufacturer originating in Direction, founded with another arms manufacturer, Pierre Blachon, the French Manufacture of Weapons and Cycles of Saint-Etienne, become Manufrance in 1947. Mimard directed the company of 1885 (creation) at 1944. A few years after the resumption of the company Martinier-Hake, Mimard and Blachon settled in the site built Cours Fauriel starting from 1892 by the architect Lamaizière. The assessment of their innovations is important: they created at the same time a great manufacture, a center of technical innovation, a new system of mail-order selling and a center of edition (Trade catalog, the French Hunter).

The mark of the Cycles Draper was founded in Saint-Etienne by Emile Mercier 1899 as well as the mark Automoto which manufactured motor bikes.

1901: installation of the Saint-Etienne connection - Saint-Héand (14 km) and of the connection Saint Etienne - Saint Chamond (15 km).
1905: installation of the Saint-Etienne connection - Pélussin (32 km).

1905: the well Couriot is created in 1905 by the public limit company of the mines of the Loire whose board of directors is chaired by Mr. Henri Couriot. Initially called Chatelus 3, the Couriot well was to reach the 13th layer of the concession of Beaubrun (also called 8th Grüner ) a powerful layer (i.e. a high, thick layer) of coal of good qualité.

1905- 1913: sinking (the digging) begins in 1911 up to 727 meters from profondeur.

In the years 1930, the " tailles" (working area of coal) inhabitants of Saint-Etienne knew the revolution of the compressed air (already present in other basins since the beginning of the 20th century). The late introduction of the Marteau-piqueur into the mine in Saint-Etienne is explained by the fact why one exploited there a relatively tender coal which inevitably did not require the use of tools other than the peak with hand.

To the accesses of the Couriot well, after 40 years of exploitation of the mine, the workmen give rise to 2 sterile material mountains (known as Terril or Crassier) 60 meters height and 8 million cubic meters. During this period, the 2.000 workmen employed on the site will have to adapt to novel methods of work resulting from the Taylorization. One can recall that the work of the women in the mines of the Loire was never authorized (in the other basins, it was interdict in 1874).

1933: Closing of the connection Saint-Etienne - Saint-Chamond (15 km).
Closing of the Saint-Etienne connection - Pélussin (32 km).

1936: Couriot well: 1936-1948: The site is managed by the Collieries of the Basin of the Loire (LORRAINE AREA) and the mines are nationalized. Following a strike in 1948, the administrative buildings are increased, the power station is modernized, making it possible to accelerate the extraction. A news Lamp-making for 1.100 minors and a large wash-hand basin of 1.100 baskets are then built.

1937: Closing of the Saint-Etienne connection - Saint-Héand (14 km).

In 1941, the marshal Pétain comes to present to Saint-Etienne the " Charter of work " (collaboration employers paid).

The city was touched by the Bombardement of May 26th, 1944. Approximately 1000 dead and disappeared in a few minutes by a flotilla from American bombers come to destroy the many factories used by the Nazis.

In the Years 1970, Saint-Etienne and France are admiring of the epopee of the Greens in the European championship. It is finished by a final lost against Bayern of Munich and the procession of the team on the Avenue of the Fields-Élysées. Since the years 1970, big industries inhabitants of Saint-Etienne had many problems. In 1967-1968, the Collieries of the Basin of the Loire (LORRAINE AREA) lose money because of the competition of the Pétrole and the coal of the foreign countries, much less expensive. The reconversion of the minors is at the time committed. The site of the Couriot Well closes its doors in 1973. The last mine of the coal basin inhabitant of Saint-Etienne was closed in 1983: it was the Pigeot well.

Manufrance files for bankruptcy in 1986, the Royal Manufacture of Weapons managed by GIAT industries lays off more and more. This important economic fold also passes by a demographic fall. Of a population of 225  825 inhabitants in 1968, within its current limits, the city passed to 201  569 in 1990 and 176  800 in 2004.

At the end of the years 1990, the city reappears with important building site of reconversion. The site of Manufrance is transformed into a tertiary pole and lesson. The Royal Manufacture of Weapons is transformed into Cité of the design and the district of Châteaucreux is rebuilt in Cité of the Businesses.

The “patois” of Saint-Etienne

See also: To speak inhabitant of Saint-Etienne,

Saint-Etienne has this of private individual that it exists there in addition to the language Francoprovençal E which is spoken in the area, a Patois local called “gaga”, still very long-lived although strictly speaking it is not a patois, because there is no specific grammar. On the other hand, the vocabulary is rather rich, it for what it is necessary to add a strong accent.

Some examples of words inhabitant of Saint-Etienne:

  • “Gaga”: the inhabitant of Saint-Etienne, the inhabitant or the language
  • “Beauseigne”: is used to express the tenderizing, pity
  • “excavated”: interjection, exclamation
  • “babet”: pine cone
  • “grolles”: shoes
  • “to have the babaud”: to be feeling gloomy
  • “coissou”: the last born of the family
  • “to have the door”: to have the giddiness
  • “to put itself in case”: to put in stop disease
  • “niaquer”: to bite for an animal
  • “bugnes”: pastry making which is tasted at fatty Tuesday and for the period of the carnival

Gastronomy inhabitant of Saint-Etienne

  • Bugnes , being connected with the fritters (which one also consumes with Lyon).

  • Sarasson : near to the Soft white cheese, is drawn from the Babeurre (Petit milk resulting from the manufacture of butter) by precipitation with ebullient water, the formed grains of sarasson are then recovered by égoutage. Fresh soup, it is seasoned with the grasses (chive, possibly garlic, salt and pepper) and accompanies potatoes cooked with water or the vapor. In Lyon, one calls this same preparation then, but with Soft white cheese: the Brain of silk worker.
  • Grated the : potato wafer, equivalent to the split ardéchoise (or Lyons). Tasted salted and peppered or more rarely, with sugar or jam.
  • mitonnée soup : Vegetable soup to which one addition of butter and the boiled dry bread with soft fires.
  • the salad of barabans : Salad of dandelions with cooked plugs.
  • the barboton : potato ragout seasoned with bay-tree and thyme.
  • the patia : potatoes mixed with cream and butter and cooked during several hours.
  • the matefaims : Left compact pancake which in the beginning was made starting from the rye flour mixed with in slightly salted water. Today water is very often replaced by milk, eggs are added.
  • let us grillatons Them : left pie resulting from residues from fat and of meat cooks with the frying pan was used in cheese drainers for cheese.
  • Côtes of Drill : wine red and rosy produces in on the buttresses of the Forez.

Famous characters

Tourist monuments and places

The remarkable architectural heritage of Saint-Etienne, of the 14th century at the 20th century, was worth the to him Ville label of Art and History decreed in 2000. The Tower of the Hardware store, the Labor market, the Town hall, the Prefecture, the Munitions factory, the oldest railway bridge of continental Europe (classified historic building) and many other buildings are as many examples of this exceptional inheritance. Also, Saint-Etienne offers more than 700 hectares of parks and green areas, strewn with sculptures, works of art, gasolines of trees… ideal for the relaxation, the walk and to discover the city under another angle. The city has also a rich person sculptor. A counterpart of the Statue of Freedom is visible not far from the downtown area, on the place Jules-Ferry, with the crossing of the Main street and the street Chevreul.

At a few minutes of the downtown area one can discover:

the Saint-Victor-on-Loire (village-district excentré pertaining to Saint Etienne) which has a nautical base and is called “the beach of the inhabitants of Saint-Etienne” and the Regional Natural reserve of the Gorges of the Loire.

One can also visit the feudal castle of Rochetaillée.

The Regional natural park of Pilat, located in forests of medium mountains. This vast park of more than 700 km ² culminates with 1432 meters in Crêt of Partridge. It constitutes important concerning the fauna and the flora of these mountainous regions. It is also composed of an important site of winter sport with the Scandinavian Espace of High Pilat.

Structure

Structure of the 16th century

Structure of the 19th century

Structure of the 20th century

student in higher education including 13.900 in university structures. The image of the city in term of higher learning goes rather well. According to a survey of the monthly magazine " Etudiant" and of the weekly magazine " Femina" version; (during 2007), Saint-Etienne arrives at the head from the university towns Frenchwoman as regards sports equipment, second in the " category; bar-restaurants-fastfoods" , and third as regards leisures and culture. As regards residences academic, the city places 10th on 31. The capital ligérienne gains the 1st place for the short courses (BTS, HAD, BTSA…). Concerning the facility found work when one is student in Saint-Etienne, the green city offers honourable a 11th place on 31 university towns. However, the city is very badly classified concerning transport (30ème on 31). In short, all confused categories (employment, residences, transport, leisures, formation…), Saint-Etienne takes down a beautiful 7th place.

Museums

  • the Museum of modern art: the second collection of France after the Center Beaubourg (more than 4000 m ² of surface of exposure, more 15  000 exposed works, more than 900 parts design…). De Picasso with Fernand Leger, while passing by Andy Warhol or Jean Dubuffet, the largest modern artists and contemporaries are present in this museum.

  • the Museum of art and industry: Installed in a building Second-Empire recently given in value, in the middle of a garden. This museum preserves the 1st world collection of ribbons, the 1st French collection of cycles and the 2nd French collection of weapons. This very rich museum is a brilliant witness of the glorious industrial past of the city.
  • the Museum of the mine: a voyage seizing in the universe of the Mine
  • the Museum of the old man Saint-Etienne. This museum is located in a private mansion of the 17th century. Through an important collection, you will discover, within an interior with the ceiling with ferns 17th century - a local speciality - the history of Saint-Etienne.
  • the Conservatory of Saint-Etienne and the Ateliers of the best workmen of France exposes the many original works created in the workshops located in the same site.
  • the Memorial of the Resistance and the Deportation of the Loire, small museum exposing the painful history of resistance and the deportation at the time of war 1939/1945 in the area.
  • the Museum of the urban transport of Saint-Etienne and its area, located at Saint-Priest-in-Jarez (a commune of the suburbs inhabitant of Saint-Etienne) in the site of the principal deposit of the STAS (owner of the urban network inhabitant of Saint-Etienne) exposes the history of the urban transport of the agglomeration and shelters some of the old urban means of transport of the city (trams, trolley bus, bus).
  • the Spacecraft Planetarium of Saint-Etienne: destination Universe for an enthralling voyage.

  • Notons that a tourist tram is at the disposal of the visitors, and that the entry in the Museums inhabitant of Saint-Etienne is free all 1st Sundays of the month.

Cultural sites and equipment

  • Park Bosom: center antique dealers.

  • Palate of the Spectacles: It is currently more the big room of spectacles of the city, with a capacity of 4500 places. It will be replaced soon by the Zenith (more than 7200 places).
  • the Opera theater of Saint-Etienne.
  • the Rotunda: Center which associates the approach teaching, experiments and cultural around scientific sets of themes.
  • the Hall C for the current musics replaced soon by " Fil" who larger and will be adapted more to this kind in concerts.
  • Center of the Congresses of Saint-Etienne.
  • Comedy of Saint-Etienne, is a scene of national importance which was the first theatrical scene decentralized by Jean Dasté.
  • Exhibition site.
  • the Gran Lux, is an underground room of visionnage and machines to manufacture films.
  • Room Jeanne d' Arc.
  • the Triumph programming of the theater workshop type and concert with parts in Gaga.
  • the Épallle theater programming around the one-man show.
  • the Theater of the Green Grid with programming around the theater amateur.
  • Chok theater.
  • the Back centers contemporary theatrical creation.
  • New Cultural center programming in direction of the general public.
  • the cinema of art and test Méliès today located place Jean Jaurès, in old the building of the Progress (4 rooms).
  • the Cinema of art and test classified Research France located close to the district of Châteaucreux (2 rooms).
  • the contemporary art gallery Realgar.

Festivals and festivals

  • Saint-Etienne is candidate under European Capitale of the culture in 2013.

  • artistic Festival:

    • Biennial international of the Design of Saint-Etienne: who takes place every two years in the first fortnight of November during ten days.
    • Festival of the Book of Saint-Etienne: (every year in the second fortnight of October during three days: Friday, Saturday and Sunday) It is one of most attended festivals of the book France.
    • Transurbaines: Biennial of the City.
    • Street of Arts (exposures artistic…) in October.

  • Festival of music:

    • Festival Words and Musics: (at the beginning of May).
    • Festival of the innovating musics: (in June).
    • Festival of the Musics of the World: Festival made up of concerts, dances, animations and films, at discovered other horizons.
    • Festival Howling Springs (in March).
    • Biennial International Massenet: festival of lyric art.
    • ears at a peak: festival centered on the discovery of new talents of the European song.
    • Night of the inhabitants of Saint-Etienne: many organized concerts.
    • Festival Piano Passion: festival of classical music in May.
    • Festival Battle Hip Hop: festival of Hip Hop dance during which breakeurs clash by team.
    • Celtic Rocks: festival which accommodates musical groups of Celtic inspiration in the open air at the juilliet beginning.
    • Organ in St-Louis for Liturgical Time: 3 free concerts of organ each year, for Christmas, Lent, Easter or other times (Saint-Louis church, center town).
    • Avatarium: This festival proposes each year in November eclectic programming around the alternative cultures, and mixes in same time concerts, conferences and animations around Free Information.

  • Festival of theater-spectacle-cinema:

    • Festival of the 7 Hills: festival of theater and cinema (every year in the 1st fortnight of July).
    • Festival of Resistances and the Alternatives: (concerts, cinema, workshops, debates, conferences, etc at the end of April - at the beginning of May).
    • Festival of Arts burlesques: Festival made up of spectacles of humor, conferences, workshops of initiations, processions burlesques and exposures.
    • Festival Potos squares: festival which to present to a public varied the various disciplines of the Hip Hop culture.
    • Night of Humor (in September).
    • http://www.festivalfaceaface.fr: Festival of Gay film and Lesbian by association Face to face each year in October - November: a selection of courts and feature-length films sets of themes and meetings with the realizers.
    • Planet colors the festival of the voyages: Festival which brings together adventurers, reporters-lecturers, photographers, musicians and writers on the topic of the voyage and the human adventure.
  • traditional Festivals:
    • Festival of the Holy Beard owner of the minors on December 4th.
    • economic Fair of Saint-Etienne: (every year in the second fortnight of September during eleven days of the Friday to Monday in eight)

  • sporting Festival:

    • Saintélyon which is a night race on foot between the towns of Saint-Etienne and Lyon on distant of 68 km.
    • Vélocio test being held cyclist since 1925 the second weekend of June with the famous timed rise of the Collar of the Republic
    • Francisco Moser, cyclosportive test.

Media

    Radio
  • :
    • Radio operator Dio: associative radio and alternative
    • Activ Radio operator: commercial radio local general practitioner
    • Radio operator Sun: associative Arabic radio and French
    • Radio Hope: radio catholic
    • the Loire FM
    • Radio operator Scoop: commercial radio local general practitioner (91.3 FM)
  • Television:
  • Written press:
    • the Platform Progress: daily newspaper of local and regional information
    • the Gazette of the Loire: weekly magazine of local information
    • Sports Drill Green: the first free magazine omnisport of the area inhabitant of Saint-Etienne
    • Rise: weekly magazine of local and regional information
  • Internet:
    • Drill information
    • Photo ADZE
    • Zoom 42
    • Saint-Etienne Guide Web
    • Saint-Etienne Underground

Sport

National and international sports events

  • Football:
    • Euro 1984 France - Yugoslavia: 3-2, Romania - Spain: 1-1.
    • Qualifications with the Euro 1996: France - Romania: 0-0
    • Football world cup of 1998 With the matches: Yugoslavia - Iran: 1-0, Chile - Austria: 1-1, Spain - Paraguay: 0-0, Scotland - Morocco: 0-3, Netherlands - Mexico: 2-2, Argentinian - England (1/8): 4-3.
    • Football world cup female 2003: France - England (Stopping for the World cup): 1-0
    • Cut of the Confederations 2003 With the meetings: New Zealand - Japan: 0-3, France - Japan: 2-1, Japan - Colombia: 0-1, Turkey - the United States: 2-1, Brazil - Turkey: 2-2, Turkey - Colombia (3rd place): 2-1.
    • Friendly: France - Scotland: 2-1, France - China: 3-1.
  • Athletics:
    • Worldwide games Handisports
    • Championships of France 2002.
  • Rugby:
    • Friendly: France - Fiji: 77-10
    • World cup of Rugby to XV 2007 With the meetings: Samoa - the United States: 25-21, Scotland - Portugal: 56-10, Scotland - Italy: 18-16.
  • Cycling:
    • Tour de France: 1950,1956,1959,1961,1963,1966,1968,1971,1977,1978,1980,1985,1986,1990,1992,1995,1997,1999,2005,2008.
    • Critérium of Dauphiné Libéré: Saint-Etienne is stage city of the race 2007, and it with already accommodated the race by 23 recoveries in the past.

Sports equipment

Elected the most sporting city of France by the daily newspaper the Team, Saint-Etienne has, indeed, of many sports equipment.

  • Stage Geoffroy-Guichard stage of 36.000 places dedicated to football and the great events. The roof of the official platform of the stage is rented for 20 years at a company which installed 2.600 m2 of solar panels at the summer 2007. It is one of the most important surfaces, in France, of photovoltaic sensors.
  • Stade Henri-Lux stage is entirely dedicated to the athletics
  • Parc of the Sports of Etivallière (19 hectares of grounds and equipment)
  • Parc of the Sports of Méons
  • Center of Séraph-Berland gymnastics, it accommodates the high level female gymnastics and lodges the Pole France.
  • Golf of Saint-Etienne (107 hectares of greenery)

Sports associations

; Football

; Basketball

  • Saint-Etienne Tennis shoe Club as a Pro B

; Athletics

; Rugby

  • Southern Loire BOX Rugby into federal 2

; American football

  • Condors in D3.
  • Giants in D3, and champions of France of Flag football in 2007.

; Others

The poles sportsman

  • 1 pole France of female gymnastics
  • 1 pole France of race of orientation
  • 1 pole Hope of cycling

Football

The team of Football of the club of Saint-Etienne ( ADZE , for Sports association of Saint-Etienne ) dominated French football in years 1960/80, gaining:
  • ten times the championship of France (1956/1957 1963/1964 1966/1967 - 1967/1968 - 1968/1969 - 1969/1970 - 1973/1974 - 1974/1975 - 1975/1976 - 1980/1981),
  • six times cut of France (1962 - 1968 - 1970 - 1974 - 1975 - 1977),
  • and by losing 1 to 0 the final of the cut of Europe in 1976 with Glasgow etc…

The players are called the Greens (of the color of their shirt), and the stage of the team, the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard (: 35616 places), is called the cauldron (or the green hell for those which come to face there).

Many the most famous players of French football played in this team, such as for example Aimé Jacquet, Michel Platini, Herve Revelli, Dominique Rocheteau, Dominique Bathenay, Jean-Michel Larqué, Jacques Santini, Laurent Blanc, Grégory Coupet, Willy Sagnol, Joseph-Antoine Bell, as well as large foreign footballers such as Oswaldo Piazza, Ivan Curkovic, Johnny Reference mark.

It is the team which launched the national passion for football with her many successes. Its stage (Geoffroy-Guichard) is still known to be one the most animated of in term of number of supporters and environment of France.

Blowpipe

The other “typical” sport of Saint-Etienne is the blowpipe, which was developed and forced by the collieries, so that the minors expel all the filth which they had in their lungs, to try to stop the silicosis. As inhabitant of Saint-Etienne, a player of blowpipe is called “slobbery” and the sport is still practiced nowadays in the coffees.

Random links:Proteus (software) | Do you remember Beautiful Dolly? | Distoechurus pennatus | Marcelyne Claudais | Festivals of the Madeleine

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