Saint-Étienne

A city of southeast-central France southwest of Lyon. It has been a textile-producing center since the 11th century. Population: 176,000.

Saint-Étienne is a city in central France located in a small basin at the foot of the Massif du Pilat. The river Furan runs through it, and this provided energy for the area's industrial activities. The mills powered by the Furan provided the basis for the growth of metallurgy and arms smithery. Arms smithery turned to gun smithery as early as the 16th century, and arms manufacture was central to its economic success.

Saint-Étienne's expansion in the 19th century was based on coal mining. This industrial boom led the further development of the city's arms industry. The Manufacture d'Armes et de Cycles (Gun and Bicycle Manufacture), nicknamed ‘la Manu’ by its workers, was founded by Étienne Mimard in 1885. In partnership with another arms manufacturer Pierre Blachon, la Manu became one of the largest arms concerns in France. During WW I the arms industry expanded rapidly and Saint-Étienne became the arsenal of France, earning the nickname ‘Armsville’. Because of the rapid collapse of France in 1940, the town's contribution was less important although the Germans attempted to maintain production. This persuaded the USAAF to bomb Saint-Étienne on 26 May 1944, killing almost 1, 000 people. Post-war la Manu went into decline, closing in 1973.

— Chris Mann

The country code is: 33
The city code is: 477