Hi, Europe 🙂
You need to admit that you had not planned in your tourist route on the old continent to visit the city of Saint-Etienne. But the EURO 2016 tournament (and maybe also Michel Platini) has decided otherwise. Indeed: you’ve just written ‘Saint-Etienne’ on Hotels.com or skyskanner in the search tab and I saw you.
First of all, you asked to your old uncle who had served in the British Navy during World War II what he knew about the city. But apparently he knows Saint-Lo and Saint-Aubin-sur-Mer, no Etienne. Then you remembered that day when you played FIFA in random mode and when you happened to be AS Seun aitieneu, Ligue 1. Finally all became clear when you saw an old betting sports ticket thanks to which you won £25 by betting £2 on a victory of Saint-Etienne.
Now that you know how to write – maybe even how to spell and pronounce – the name of the city in which you are going to spend some days, I suggest you to stop your research on Tripadvisor, Yelp, Michelin Travel, etc. The Real Ultimate Places To Be Certified by Pure Stéphanois (born with green jerseys on) are here and nowhere else:
? ? ? Drinking ? ? ?
Well, we agree that what is sought first in a city that we visit for football is a good spot to enjoy a « godet » (a cup, in local language). Then you will quickly make you account mates, because, as we say in Saint-Etienne, “We don’t have an easy life, but we know how to drink”. Some useful addresses:
- Crossroad Tavern – Irish style pub
40 Rue Etienne Mimard, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Fourneyron) - Soggy Bottom – where all Stéphanois go
9 Rue de la Résistance, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Jean Jaurès) - Saint-Patrick – one of the largest pubs in town
44 Rue des Martyrs de Vingré, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Peuple or Square Violette) - Club Spirit – the most typical
4 Place Jules Guesde, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Jean Jaurès) - Obobar – the « posh » one
29 Rue Léon Nautin, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Peuple or Square Violette) - Slag Heaps – the best night bar
8 place Albert Thomas, 42000 Saint-Etienne (tram station: Bourse du Travail) - Thunderbird Lounge – if you’re finally tired of us, Stéphanois slaughtering English language with dreadful pronounciation and horrible grammar, James the tenant will be able to speak proper English with you! (and serve delicious beers of course)
8 rue Denis Escoffier 42000 Saint-Etienne (tram station: Peuple)
? ? ? Eating ? ? ?
Once satisfied or, as we say, cuit (cooked), bleu (blue), caillé (sour like sour milk), noir (black), fait comme un babet (well, this one is tricky…), you might be a little bit hungry. In Saint-Etienne, we like good things, and do not fuss. Here is a selection of Pizza, Burger and other tasty « bistros » in the town centre:
- Le Novello – maybe the best pizza in town
14 Rue de la Résistance, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Jean Jaurès) - La Scala, Chez Roberto – the best place for a pizza on a terrace
3 Place Jean Jaurès, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Jean Jaurès) - La Java Bleue – meat, meat, MEEEAAAAAT !!! (French Beef, please.)
2 Cours Fauriel, 42100 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Anatole France + 10 mn walk) - La Table du 10 – make your own burger
10 Rue des Fossés, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Peuple) - Corne d’Aurochs – typical « bouchon », authentic local restaurant
18 Rue Michel Servet, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tran station: Jean Jaurès) - Les Gueules Noires – another typical local restaurant
36 rue des Alliés, 42000 Saint-Etienne (tram station: Fourneyron) - Kebab Grill – one of the best kebab restaurant in town
9-, 7 Rue Notre Dame, 42000 Saint-Étienne tram station: Peuple or Square Violette)
? ? ? Dancing after the match ? ? ?
- BUL Club – nice and cosy
7 Rue Francis Garnier, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Jean Jaurès) - Barberousse – rum and pirates
27 Rue Léon Nautin, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Peuple) - La Mine – 80’s rock and good vibes
2 Cours Jovin Bouchard, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Bourse du Travail) - F2 – hip-hop and urban style
2 Rue de la ville, 42000 Saint-Étienne (tram station: Peuple) - Kopa Beach – disco and palm trees
19 rue George Dupré 42000 Saint-Etienne (tram station: Peuple)
? ? ? If you stay a bit longer in Saint-Etienne… ? ? ?
- Musée de la Mine – Website in English
3 Boulevard Maréchal Franchet D’esperey, 42000 Saint-Étienne - Musée d’art et d’Industrie – Website
2 place Louis Comte, 42000 Saint-Étienne - Musée des Verts – Website
14 Rue Paul et Pierre Guichard, 42028 Saint Etienne Cedex 1 (in front of the stadium) - Musée d’art moderne et contemporain – Website in English
Rue Fernand Léger, 42270 Saint-Priest-en-Jarez - Eglise Le Corbusier – Website in English
Rue des Noyers, 42700 Firminy - Cité du Design – Website in English
3 rue Javelin Pagnon, 42000 Saint-Etienne - The gorges of the Loire – Website in English
It’s easy to visit Saint-Etienne on foot, especially the centre. To reach the stadium or other parts of the city, you can use tram or bus lines run by the local transport company STAS:
- Ticket for 1h30 : 1,40 €
- Ticket for 10 trips: 10 €
You can go to Paris and Lyon several times a day from Saint-Etienne Chateaucreux (main railway station) – maybe to Roanne for the greediest…
- Price for a one way ticket from Saint-Etienne to Lyon (adults) with a commuter train which might however be on strike: 11€50 (50 minutes)
You know, there are hundreds of other places to see in Saint-Etienne. If you like adventures, you will be one of the first to discover the jewels of our city. Welcome to another France, welcome to a place that has the most beautiful monuments to offer: our warmth, our authenticity and our hospitality.
