Saint-Etienne is known for its sports! A working-class city, the cradle of major French industries, the city has often vibrated to the rhythm of football: from the European epic of 1976 to the ten French championship titles, "Les Verts" occupy a special place in the pantheon of French sport. However, in 2023, rugby is on the screens. Four Rugby World Cup matches will be held in the bubbling cauldron of Geoffroy Guichard. This is an opportunity to draw attention to an innovative and forward-looking city recognised as a "creative city for design" by UNESCO.
Pick your match
Built in 1931 and renovated several times, the mythical "Chaudron" of Geoffroy-Guichard, with a capacity of 42,152 seats, is the vintage stadium of this Rugby World Cup 2023. Four matches are scheduled in Saint-Etienne:
Italy/Namibia - Friday 9 September at 1pm (pool A) Australia/Fiji - Sunday 17 September at 5.45pm (pool C) Argentine/Samoa - Friday 22 September at 5.45pm (pool D) Australia/Winner Qualifying Tournament - Sunday 1 October at 5.45pm (pool C)
For more information, visit the online ticketing
Getting around and to the stadium without rushing
As the Geoffroy-Guichard stadium is located near the city centre, the most motivated fans can reach the stadium on foot from the historic centre in less than 45 minutes. The others will opt for public transport: the bus or the tramway whose frequency of the two lines serving the stadium is reinforced on the evenings of the matches. Practical! To warm up before the start of the match, it is possible to travel around the city on two wheels, thanks to the Vélivert rental self-service. To make travelling easier, visitors can buy a City Pass from the Saint-Etienne Tourist Office in order to benefit from unlimited access to the city's transport network as well as access to tours.
Getting around Saint-Etienne by public transport
Rent a bike in Saint-Etienne with Vélivert
Watch the game in town...and celebrate the 3rd half
In a city that vibrates to the rhythm of its football club's exploits, following a match in a bar, beer in hand (in moderation), is a must for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the local culture. It is impossible to talk about bars in Saint-Etienne without mentioning the Rue des Martyrs de Vingré, a real "thirsty street" frequented by students and animated until late at night. A few hundred metres away, the Place Jean Jaurès houses the Six Nations bar. With a name that smells rugby games and a flamboyant red facade reminiscent of English pubs, this new bar will undoubtedly be one of the must-see spots to experience the Rugby World Cup in town.
Enjoying local products
In the city centre, the Mazerat-Biltoki market is the new Mecca of Saint-Etienne's gastronomy. Built in 1872, they have regained their effervescence and are once again home to food shops and craftsmen. Here, you can do your shopping, drink a coffee on the terrace and enjoy delicious dishes concocted on the spot with market produce: quality street food to nibble on! Why not try some râpées stéphanoises (grated potato pancakes) accompanied by Sarasson (a cheese preparation made from beaten cottage cheese)? If you cook, don't miss the fresh homemade pasta from Maison Cornand, a Saint-Etienne institution since 1919. For dessert, push open the door of the Weiss chocolate maker, established in Saint-Etienne since 1882!
For a gourmet and eco-responsible stopover, head to the Cité du Design to discover the Fabuleuse Cantine, an address that transforms unsold food from the surrounding area, mainly local and organic products, into creative cuisine.
Shopping at Halles Mazerat-Biltoki - Fall for Weiss Chocolates
Visit the must-see places in the city
The industrial capital of France in the 19th century, Saint-Etienne is not one to rest on its laurels: singular, creative and innovative, the city has reinvented itself by focusing on bold contemporary architecture under the impetus of the Le Corbusier site, a unique urban ensemble in Europe, before being recognised as a "creative city for design" by UNESCO. The Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art (MAMC) houses the largest collection of contemporary art in France after the Centre Pompidou. The former Manufacture d'Armes is now home to the Cité du Design, where the famous Saint-Etienne School of Art and Design is located. Contemporary art is also expressed at the Ceysson Bénétière gallery, installed in a 1200 m² building with monumental works. The Cité du Design, which is a major venue for the Saint-Etienne International Design Biennial, is continuing its transformation: its new look should be visible by 2025-2026 with a new creative and innovative district including a large event hall, exhibition spaces and a hotel.
Visit the Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Saint-Etienne
Visit the Cité du Design:
Visit the Ceysson Bénétière Gallery
Explore the surroundings
To stretch your legs between two matches, head for the Pilat Regional Natural Park, a real paradise for hikers and mountain bikers. The highest point of the massif, the Crêt de la Perdrix (1432 m) offers a sumptuous panorama of the Alps. Lovers of wild nature in Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes can also discover the Gorges de la Loire Nature Reserve, around the picturesque village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire: on a mild September day, you can enjoy a sandy beach on the banks of the Loire or climb into the village and discover its medieval castle, which offers a breathtaking view of the river.
Explore the Pilat Regional Nature Park Discover the Gorges de la Loire Nature Reserve Visit the village of Saint-Victor-sur-Loire
Finding an accommodation
Easily accessible by public transport, Saint-Etienne is a small city and the ideal place to stay is in the city centre. For example, in one of the recent addresses such as the City Loft Hôtel, a 3-star apartment-hotel with 86 flats located in an ‘Art Nouveau’ building near the Halles Mazerat and the Museum of Art and Industry. Here, meals are based on local and organic products. You can also take advantage of a City Card included in the "Discovery" package. Further north and even closer to the stadium (30 minutes on foot), there is a new 3* Novotel hotel with 77 rooms in the business district near the station, which is undergoing major changes. Its highlight: a 200m² rooftop where you can have breakfast in the open air.
Stay at the City Loft Hotel Stay at Novotel Saint Etienne Centre Gare Châteaucreux
Watch the game in town...and celebrate the 3rd half
In a city that vibrates to the rhythm of its football club's exploits, following a match in a bar, beer in hand (in moderation), is a must for anyone who wants to immerse themselves in the local culture. It is impossible to talk about bars in Saint-Etienne without mentioning the Rue des Martyrs de Vingré, a real "thirsty street" frequented by students and animated until late at night. A few hundred metres away, the Place Jean Jaurès houses the Six Nations bar. With a name that smells rugby games and a flamboyant red facade reminiscent of English pubs, this new bar will undoubtedly be one of the must-see spots to experience the Rugby World Cup in town.
By Caroline Revol-Maurel
Journalist passionate about wild nature, travel and rock. As happy to write about bearded vultures as Lou Reed. Often accompanied by my two best critics, my daughters.
