Halfway between the volcanoes of Auvergne and the Lyon metropolitan area sits the Loire department and its diverse tapestry of landscapes. The Olympic torch will reveal them to the world throughout its tour of Loire. It will begin its journey in Roanne and its historic squares before travelling to Charlieu and its Benedictine abbey. It will then visit three towns with medieval remains that have stood the test of time: Montbrison, Feurs —including its nationally renowned racecourse— and Saint-Chamond. Firminy will set the scene for the rest of the day.

The relays will take place within the Le Corbusier site, the largest architectural ensemble in Europe conceived by the famous French urbanist Charles-Édouard Jeanneret. This one-of-a-kind site spans 15 hectares and features over a thousand homes, a church, a stadium and a swimming pool. The torch will then depart for Saint-Étienne.

Celebrations in Saint-Etienne

Saint-Étienne is an eclectic city. A vibrant economic hub with a large university campus, it belongs to the UNESCO Creative Cities Network in the field of design.The torch's route through the city will start at the planetarium, which has been telling the story of humanity and space ever since its inauguration in 1993. From there, it will head to the Couriot Mining Museum, which recounts the history of coal mining in Saint-Étienne.

The Olympic torch will then head to the Cité du Design, on the site of an old arms factory. After that, it will move on to Geoffroy-Guichard Stadium, one of the main attractions of the city. The legendary football venue, which has been home to the city's local club (AS Saint-Étienne) since 1931, will host the end-of-day celebrations, including the lighting of the cauldron in the forecourt of the stadium.

Celebration venue info

Come and celebrate the passing of the Olympic flame in Saint-Etienne !

The celebration site is free and open to all from 3.30pm to 7.45pm at the following address: PARVIS STADE GEOFFROY GUICHARD,
42000 SAINT-ETIENNE

A festive programme open to all awaits you, including :

• events organised by the local authorities: sport, music, shows, etc.
• stands run by the Relay of the Flame sponsors:
  • Coca-Cola will be providing a musical and festive atmosphere
  • Banque Populaire will be giving the public the chance to try out water sports
  • Caisse d'Epargne will be dedicating its stand to basketball and handball
• a show organised by the sponsors on the sports slab from 6 p.m.
• 7.20pm: the arrival of the last torchbearer and the lighting of the Olympic cauldron, a moment not to be missed!

Note: a giant screen, a host and a DJ will also be on hand to get the public in the mood for the Torch Relay!