Car Hire in Saint Etienne North - Mini guide to Saint Etienne North

The Rhône-Alpes region of eastern central France is home to the bustling city of Saint-Etienne, France. With a population approaching 180,000 it is one of the larger cities in this part of France. It is located forty miles southwest of Lyon and is the capital of the Loire département in the Massif Central. It is easily reached via the trunk road that runs between Toulouse and Lyon.

During the 16th century, the city was widely known for its arms factory and this aspect of the city contributed to its importance in the region. It was for this reason that the city’s name was changed to Armeville (""Arms town"") during the French Revolution. Later on, it became known for coal mining production and more recently a manufacturing center for bicycles.

There are three museums in the city with the Musée d'Art Moderne having the one of the most extensive collections of modern art in the entire world. The Musée de la Mine and Musée des Ponts et Chaussées are the other two and are well worth a visit as well. At one time, Saint-Etienne was the bicycle capital of France and Mavic (a major bicycle manufacturer) is still based here in the city. The city is often one of the stages of the world renowned Tour de France race.

The tramway in Saint-Etienne and the one in Lille were the only two that kept operating despite the fact that during the 20th century, nearly all of the other French cities decommissioned theirs. Where professional sports are concerned, Saint-Etienne is also home to one of France’s greatest football teams.

But what separates this city from the larger cities, including Paris, is its distinct charm. The many cultural attractions including Jean Jaures Square are just a small part of its allure, but the café type culture and abundant flower stalls are what really display the charm of Saint-Etienne. Additionally, the numerous mountain walks offer some of the most spectacular scenery in the region.

Car hire deals in: France

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