City Break Design in Saint-Etienne : our top 3
In Saint-Étienne, design has its roots in the city’s history. Between the Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, the Musée d’Art Moderne et Contemporain, designer workshops and more, one thing’s for sure: after your city break in Saint-Étienne, design will hold no more secrets for you.
Day 1: The roots of design
Let’s head for Saint-Étienne to explore design at length, at length and even at length during a city break. Here, design is everywhere in the city, even where you least expect it.
So our first day begins with two museums that are at the roots of design as we know it in Saint-Étienne. The Musée d’Art et d’Industrie, with “La mécanique de l’art” (The Mechanics of Art), allows us to discover the evolution of Saint-Etienne’s know-how in ribbons, weapons and cycles over the centuries. It’s the perfect exhibition to highlight the cross-disciplinary know-how of Saint-Etienne’s industries, for yes, they are the sources of today’s design.
We continue our exploration with Couriot-Musée de la Mine. Here, you can experience first-hand how the mines of Saint-Etienne were exploited. We also understand the impact they had on the region’s development, as well as all the innovations they led to. And one we all know about: the first railroad line in continental Europe, linking Saint-Étienne to Andrézieux (now Andrézieux-Bouthéon). Yes, that’s right!
Day 2: “Modern” design
We start this new day with the Musée d’art moderne et contemporain. With over 23,000 works in its collections and almost 2 million visitors who have passed through its doors over the decades, the MAMC+ (as we like to call it around here) is one of the French benchmarks in its field. As well as exhibitions and monumental works to discover, there are also numerous events organized throughout the year. So keep your eyes peeled for their program.
Between two flea markets, you can take a stroll around town to soak up the atmosphere of Saint-Etienne. With designer boutiques, designer shops and street art everywhere, there’s plenty to surprise you!
After a moment’s strolling, we finish with the Cité du Design. Located right in the heart of the creative district, here you’ll find companies, visitors, locals and students from the École supérieure d’art et design de Saint-Étienne. It’s the ideal place to discover a cultural program dedicated to design: exhibitions, conferences, workshops, concerts, round tables… there’s something for everyone. And of course, we can’t forget the Biennale Internationale Design, which takes place here every two years.
In 2025, the International Design Biennial returns to Saint-Étienne with the theme: Ressources, présager demain. A promising edition not to be missed!
We look forward to seeing you from May 22 to July 6, 2025.
Day 3: A UNESCO site not to be missed
We continue our city break by exploring the south of the destination. With its mix of architecture and nature, there’s something for everyone here.
We start with Europe’s largest UNESCO-recognized complex (for its Maison de la Culture), by architect Charles-Édouard Jeanneret, better known as Le Corbusier. Here, we try out guided tours to find out everything there is to know about this work and, above all, to be surprised by all the nuggets it abounds in. We strongly advise you to visit the church on a sunny morning to marvel at the light it offers (shhh, we won’t tell you more). And if you want to enjoy a superb panorama, it’ll be from the roof terrace of the residential unit.
Once our architectural stroll is over, we’re off in the direction of the Réserve Naturelle des Gorges de la Loire. Here, we’re in the very heart of nature. This is the perfect opportunity to try out one of the many eco-responsible activities on offer. How about a bit of boating? But not just any boat, but an electric boat without a license, so book right away with Nautisme Delorme. If you prefer dry land, you’ll have to venture into the Gorges de la Loire with Guillaume Thiollière (la tulipe au visage), our botanical expert. The program includes a nature outing, bush picking, wild cuisine and ethnobotany, to name but a few!
Let’s go further and explore these road trips:
Le Saint-É City Pass
To visit as many tourist sites as possible in 48 or 72 hours, there’s an essential pass: the Saint-É City Pass. Retailing from €19.50, it’s the key to making the most of your stay in Saint-Étienne. Find out more.
