Saint-Etienne

Saint-Etienne is an industrial city in the Loire department of Auvergne-Rhone-Alpes, France, about 62 km south-west of Lyon. It is a UNESCO Creative City of Design, and its former arms and ribbon-making heritage has been turned into museums and design venues. The TER train from Lyon Part-Dieu or Perrache to Saint-Etienne Chateaucreux takes about 50 minutes and costs around EUR 12 (~$13.45) each way, with several trains per hour. Tram lines T2 and T3 run from the station into the centre, so a car is not needed; driving on the A47 takes about an hour but traffic can build up near Givors. A sensible one-day arc starts in the morning at the Cite du Design, a large creative hub in a former arms factory, followed by a walk to the Place du Peuple and the surrounding commercial streets. Lunch can be taken in the centre, where brasseries serve regional dishes and the local cheese Rigotte or Saint-Marcellin may appear on menus. The afternoon suits the Puits Couriot mining museum, a former colliery site that tells the story of the Loire coal basin, or the Musee d'Art Moderne in nearby Saint-Priest-en-Jarez, which holds a notable modern-art collection. Reaching the museum requires a short bus or tram link, so check timetables before leaving. The city is hilly but most visits involve little more than short walks and tram rides, keeping the effort easy. The best season runs from April to November, when walking and outdoor terraces are comfortable; winter days are short and can be cold. Museum opening days vary and some close on Mondays or Tuesdays, so visitors should check the tourist office site, tourisme-st-etienne.com, before choosing a day.