Close to Lyon in the Rhône-Alpes region in the east of France, is the city of Saint-Étienne. It has been known as The City of Design, and hosts a number of brilliant design festivals including its famous Biennale event. Thanks to its design heritage, the city is a cultural hub and has plenty of museums, theatres, music events, and shopping facilities in the town centre.
Hiring a car from Saint-Étienne is the perfect way to travel around the city, and you'll also be able to travel further afield and drive over to Lyon to spend the day exploring somewhere else in the country.
There are three major museums in the city of Saint-Étienne, and the use of a car will make things much easier for visitors. The Musée d'Art Moderne is one of the best and offers one of the largest collections of contemporary art in the whole of France. Alternatively, there is a mining museum which will enable you to discover more of the region's industrial history.
If you are visiting at the right time of year you might be in with a chance of catching some of the Massenet Festival, a unique opera festival hosted within the city.
To explore the local villages and landscape, hire a car from Saint-Étienne and journey out for the day to Saint Victor sur Loire, Chagnon or Châteauneuf- each one has some unique rustic charm to offer visitors.
