Saint-Etienne vacation rentals

From industrial revolution to modern revelation

Nestled in the Rhone-Alpes region of central France, Saint-Etienne is a city proud of its past as an industrial and mining center. Today, professionals come for the biennial design fair, while vacationers come to visit the modern museums, tour the walkable streets, and eat in fine restaurants featuring locally sourced ingredients. Book a Saint-Etienne vacation rental near one of the city's much-beloved public squares and you'll feel like a local. Then head to one of the nature reserves just outside of town and be at one with the water birds taking it easy on the banks of the Loire.

From lofty artworks to below ground coal workers

Sights in Saint-Etienne reflect the city's rich past and stylish present. The Mine Museum features a reconstructed mine that shows visitors how workers dredged up coal in the old days, and tours help kids and history buffs explore the site's past from the 1840s to the 1970s. The Musee d'Art Moderne et Contemporain is the country's second largest modern art museum. It houses more that 15,000 works, including paintings, sculptures, and photographs. If possible, the Cite du Design is even hipper and more modern. Its glass and steel edifice is positively gleaming, and inside, diverse exhibitions are refreshed regularly.

3 picturesque plazas and a design fair to boot

The most popular activity among Saint-Etienne visitors is the good old-fashioned stroll. The center of local life is Place Jean Jaures, a large square with a bandstand and a border of beautiful buildings, including the town hall and the Cathedrale Saint-Charles. The Saint-Jacques district features lively streets and colorful shops, and the Place du Peuple is probably the prettiest square in the city. Every 2 years, in November, the city comes alive with the International Design Biennale, drawing artists, design executives, and students from the world's best design schools.

You won't need the temper of a saint to handle these temps

Saint-Etienne isn't known as a summertime tourist haven, but maybe it should be. Temps in June, July, and August are in the 70s and 80s, and sunny days are common. Winters are cold but not bitterly so. You'll want to bundle up against nighttime lows in the 30s, but you'll rarely freeze your tail off. Spring and fall see highs in the 60s, and rain showers are short and sweet. So go nuts and book your Saint-Etienne vacation rental any time of year. Just make sure you make plans in advance if you're traveling during the International Design Biennale.

An industrial city in an anti-industrial paradise

A city known for making things, Saint-Etienne is still surrounded by one thing no human can produce—natural beauty. The city limits include part of Pilat Regional Nature Park, 250 square miles of protected land that includes spruce forest, meadows, and hills blanketed in tall grasses and dotted with vineyards. Your Saint-Etienne vacation rental will also be right next door to Gorges de la Loire Nature Reserve, a vast green space that hugs the Loire River and draws hikers, backpackers, fishermen, and birdwatchers from all over Europe and beyond.

Transportation to and around Saint-Etienne

Fly into Saint-Etienne (EBU-Saint-Etienne - Loire Intl.), the closest airport, located 7.8 mi (12.6 km) from the city center.

If you're traveling by train, Saint-Etienne-Le Clapier Station, Saint-Etienne-Carnot Station and Saint-Étienne Châteaucreux Station are the main stations in the city.