Rugby World Cup Car Hire - Saint Etienne

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Saint Etienne is located in the East of France just below Lyon. It is close to the French Alps and the Loire river. It is also close to the mountainous area known as the Massif Central. The road through this area connects Saint Etienne to other major cities such as Toulouse and makes the journey very easy to drive around.

Saint Etienne is one of the smallest cities hosting games in the 2007 world cup with only 180’000 inhabitants. Accommodation is available but can get very busy in the summer months. Many visitors choose to drive in from other cities such as Lyon and take advantage of the larger international hotels that these cities offer.

This area of France is famous for it’s delicatessen style food. Truffles, salami and sweet peppers are popular. Fruits such as strawberries, raspberries and apples are popular and tend to be named after the city or town that produce them. Town markets are available all over the region and can be a great way to experience local food without paying higher restaurant prices.

Saint-Charles Cathedral in Saint-Étienne is probably the most popular site in the city, along with the numerous shops and restaurants. Most visitors choose to explore the Loire and the Loire valley and there are plenty of villages along the river that are easy to drive to. Each has their own special features and it is worth checking a guidebook for the best sites to see. Many sites will close early and may not be open at weekends. Heading up to the mountains is also popular but the distances can be deceptive so make sure that you leave plenty of time, as the smaller roads can take longer to navigate.

The two major sports in the region of France are football and cycling. Association Sportive de Saint-Étienne is based in the city and play their games at the Stade Geoffroy-Guichard. This stadium seats 36,000 spectators and is used for both Rugby and Football. Lance Armstrong famously won the 2005 Tour de France time trial in the city enroute to his 7th, and final, title.