Today’s post is a little different, today we take a trip across the ocean to visit one of Windsor’s Twin Cities.
Since 1963, Windsor has been twinned with the City of Saint-Etienne in France. Oddly enough as further proof of what a small world it is, I have family living in Saint-Etienne, and my wife and I paid a visit in 2006.
Located in the south east of France, St. Etienne had a population of 180,210 according to the 1999 census and a metropolitan population of 321,703.
The City is located 60 km s.w. of Lyon, the second biggest City in France (metropolitan population 1.7 million), and a fierce rival. They hate the Lyonaise like we hate Londoners or Torontonians đ
Much like Windsor, they faced a big slump in the 1970s-80s, as the primary employer in town, a massive coal mine, closed up shop.
The Downtown area is very urban and compact. The cathedral looks over one of the large public squares. Two longer skinnier squares can be found both north and south of the city hall.
In the north end of the city is the football (soccer) stadium. Built in the 1930’s it was overhauled and was the site of several matches in the 1998 World Cup. More recently it hosted a couple of matches during the Rugby World Cup last fall. The local team Les Verts is in the top league, and there are some bitter games against perennial powerhouse Lyon. The Lyon team has won the league title every season from 2002-2007. They currently sit in first place again this year.
Today, we take a look around at some of the historic architecture in the downtown core. The core of St. Etienne (and most European cities) are well preserved, as a certain level of importance is placed on urban living. In fact it is the opposite of North America, where the rich (and well to do) live in the city, and the poorer citizens, and recent immigrants live outside of the city in the suburbs.
The downtown movie theatre
The downtown cathedral.
The band shell in the park near city hall.
Some great French Art Deco Architecture.
A look down a street towards one of the hills. That giant hill isn’t natural, it’s a giant slag heap made out of waste from the coal mines. There are two of them side by side, and they are affectionately referred to as “Les Mamelles” (the breasts).
This is some kind of crazy ornate building along the main street. Note the wires and street car tracks. Saint-Etienne was one of only two cities in France that didn’t rip out their streetcar lines. They have recently added new lines to the streetcar system, and are one of the models in France for this method of Urban Transport.
The building above is the City Hall. Until the 1950’s there was a giant dome on top of the building. The dome proved to have become structurally unsound, and was dismantled. Here in Windsor they would have demolished the entire building. đ
Why is Saint-Etienne a twin? What’s the reasoning or historical basis for that? And, how many twin cities does WIndsor have? Does Windsor also have an Italian sister city? I think I remember a tour guide telling me the fountain across the street from the CIBC building on Riverside was donated by the Italian one. Are there any monuments to Saint-Etienne in Windsor?
It reminds me of Detroit during the day. Very beautiful city, but where’s the people and the cars? With all the densely packed 4 storey buildings and the well-to-do people living in the city, I’m expecting the streets to be bustling with activity. Hopefully, they have enough parking garages to accomodate everybody or perhaps that’s why they are increasing the size of the streetcar system–as an alternative to dealing with the parking issue.
European cities were designed around people walking and cycling, long before the automobile…..North American cities, just the opposite! We can’t change history but maybe we should focus on saving some of the history that we do have.
Sort of makes you wonder what constitutes a “Twin” doesn’t it? I see no similarities whatsoever between this historical, urban community (with streetcars in tact, nonetheless!) and the city in which we live. It gives us a great goal to strive for, though..
Great post, Andrew. I know we have more sister cities scattered around the world – just look at all the proclamations that line the 3rd floor of City Hall outside of council chanbers. I look forward to you “taking us” to them as well. It would make a great series!
Chris, I have no idea what makes a twin. I know that population has a lot to do with it…
This is the only one I’ve been too, however if scaledown, wanted to hire me to go tour and photograph the others, I would gladly do so… đ
Here’s a list of our twin cities courtesy of Wikipedia…
Lublin, Poland
Saint-Ăâ°tienne, France (1963)
Fujisawa, Japan (1987)
Coventry, England (1963)
Mannheim, Germany
Las Vueltas, El Salvador
Changchun, China
Gunsan, South Korea
Saltillo, Mexico
Ohrid, Republic of Macedonia
Udine, Italy
Granby, Quebec, Canada
Stay tuned for Part II tomorrow, it will show what a city with dense urban, walkable retail looks like đ
Bill – There are no monuments to Windsor in St.Etienne, just as we don’t have any to them.
David – I took these photos early in the morning on a weekend – hence the lack of activity on the streets.
The city resembles parts of Old Montreal…and believe it or not, parts of Ottawa…Windsor, I’m not so sure! Who decides what international cities are to be “twins”? Interesting research…
I wonder why our twin isn’t Windsor, England, instead of Coventry like Old York, England, New York USA, or Old Hampshire, England, and New Hampshire, USA. I always thought our name had some connection with England like London Ontario and London England.
Good description and explanations, born and live in St Etienne, I didn’t even know that what we called the “crassier” (slag heap) was referred to as ââŹĹLes MamellesââŹÂ too, are you sure of that,? you’re probably right but never heard of that, finally I don’t know much about my city, shame on me!!
Sandy,
That’s what my family told me. Maybe the nickname went away when the mine closed? My relatives familiy’s ancesters wored at the mine, so maybe it was a nickname from the workers?
Windsor has a St. Etienne Blvd. It’s in the industrial park between Central/Rhodes and Walker. It sort of turns into Foster and meets Walker Rd now. The businesses on the south side of the street back onto the Windsor Airport property. I don’t know of any other tribute to our French Twin.