Located between the Lyonnais and Forez mountains, the pleasant health resort of Saint-Galmier is famous for its mineral water springs where the prestigious Badoit comes from. Renowned for its digestive properties and popular for its flavour and tiny bubbles, Badoit mineral water makes an ideal drink to accompany meals.
In addition to the Badoit museum and the old town, visitors should also visit Saint-Galmier's charming rose garden, where over 350 varieties grow.
Saint-Galmier is a city of more than 5,800 inhabitants which is located about twenty kilometers from Saint-Etienne and about thirty kilometers from Lyon.
Old, the city dates from the Gallo-Roman era as evidenced by the remains of Roman baths near the source Badoit. Saint-Galmier presents an interesting historical and architectural heritage that testifies to the wealth of the city over the past centuries. Bathed by the sun, the forézienne city highlights magnificent historic districts that dominate the plain of Forez, offering a breathtaking view of the region.
Pleasant and dynamic, the city of Saint-Galmier is home to a large number of recreational and sports facilities, and is part of the label The most beautiful detours in France, like a hundred cities in France.
Historic city, Saint-Galmier presents a rich and exciting heritage for lovers of history and architecture.
Near the Badoit spring, Roman baths were discovered in the middle of the 19th century. The excavations also revealed the presence of ancient medals dating back to ancient times.
In the city, the buildings of interest are not lacking like the Renaissance house dating from the sixteenth century and listed as a Historic Monument, the house called Saint-Galmier with its Gothic door and statuette representing St. Galmier, or the cloister Ursuline convent dating from the seventeenth century and enlarged during the nineteenth century.
Dating from the 15th century, the church of Saint Galmier was listed as an historic monument in the 1970s. The stained glass windows by Alexandre Mauvernay are beautiful.
Saint-Galmier hosts many castles like the castle of the Cross of Mission, that of Doue, that of Rey or that of Verney.
The racecourse of Saint-Galmier was built at the end of the 19th century and has a grass track of 1330 meters. This is the only lighted racecourse in the entire region.
The only remaining vestige of the city's five gates, the 14th-century Saint-Etienne gate still stands proudly in the city, as does the Teillère manor dating from the same period and listed as a Historical Monument.
Near the old factory building listed historical monument, it is possible to admire the source of soda water Badoit operated by the company Danone.
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Every year Saint-Galmier presents an impressive number of events and other cultural events that attract visitors.
The Saint-Galmier market is held every Monday morning at Peyret Lacombe Square, while a farmers' market is set up every Friday afternoon.
In August, the city hosts a competition of draft horses on the racecourse, while the fair of St. Catherine and its animations takes place every November 25.
In May, the Barbarie Organ Festival will be held with demonstrations of hand-crankers in traditional costumes, craft stalls or exhibitions of old organs.
The Music'Festival takes its place between the months of July and August in the center of Saint-Galmier. On the program, various concerts of pop, rock or other styles by artists from the region.
From mid-October to the beginning of November, Saint-Galmier hosts the Cine Filou festival, with screenings dedicated to young audiences.
