What awaits us in 2025? The year has barely started, it is already time to take a look at the calendar and check off what interests us in the Loire and Haute-Loire. Once is not customary, let's start with culture with the opening or refreshment of new places.
Two wastelands continue to change in Saint-Chamond and Montbrison
In the center of the town of Saint-Chamond, the former industrial wasteland of GIAT, in the heart of the city, will welcome the museum of urban art and street art: the Mausa H07 named after the Novaciérie hall where urban art and large frescoes will be exhibited. This should open in April: more than 8,000 square meters overlooking the skate park. This private museum, whose concept is already a hit in Alsace and Moselle, will, thanks to its surface area, one of the ten largest museums in France. It is on the site of the former Steelworks which became GIAT Industries in 1994, then Novacieries in the early 2000s and now Hall in One.
Another emblematic wasteland which housed a renowned toy factory, the Gégé in Montbrisonnamed after its founder Germain Giroud, is transformed into an intergenerational residential neighborhood. This wasteland, located near the town hall and schools, will host a canteen, a nursery, a market, a senior residence but also a building called “Caroline”, named after one of the most famous dolls.
The end of two major projects
In 2025, two major projects will slowly come to an end. There transformation of the Mariniers esplanade, on the port of Roanne First of all. This green setting is designed to host the city's festive events, starting with the music festival next June, but we will be able to stroll or cycle there from this spring.
HAS Saint-Étienne, in Tréfilerie, the campus ends being completely restructured and unifiedwith a park and gates closed during the day. Students have been working on the site for more than four years and it's quite a makeover for this faculty which dates back to the 1960s.
A Bocuse d’Or for Paul Marcon?
Since we're spending a lot of time at the table at the moment, let's make a note in our calendar to (mentally) encourage Paul Marcon. One of the sons of Régis Marcon, three-star chef of Saint-Bonnet-le-Froid (Haute-Loire), participates in the international final of the prestigious gastronomic competition : le Bocuse d’or. It will take place in Lyon on January 26 and 27 at Eurexpo. This competition, imagined by Paul Bocuse in 1987, brings together best chefs in the world and has become over the years a unmissable international meeting place for international gastronomy. With his team, Paul Marcon will represent France. It will have to serve in 5 hours and 35 minutes, a dish on a platter which will highlight the venison, the foie gras and the tea; as well as an individual plate around celery, lean meat and lobster. All for 16 people!
This unique competition takes place under the eye of a jury of professionals, but also under the gaze of a demanding audience, in an atmosphere worthy of a stadium. For Paul Marcon, he will have to keep a cool head if he hopes to follow in the footsteps of his father, Régis Marcon, winner in 1995. For attend the finalmeet at Eurexpo Lyon, Sunday January 26 and Monday January 27, 2025, with an awards ceremony on Monday at 6:00 p.m.
Gaël Perdriau in court
In February, the following month, another room, another atmosphere for the mayor of Saint-Étienne. Gaël Perdriau has an appointment with justicein Paris. No not in the intimate video blackmail affair -which has little chance of being judged before the municipal elections of 2026-. This hearing is being held following a defamation complaint filed by the president of the Arcomik festival. In question: remarks made during a municipal council, in January 2022 and rebroadcast on the city's website, when culture deputy Marc Chassaubéné explained why the municipal subsidy was eliminated. As for the festival d’humourit will take place just after the audience and a third of the shows are already sold out.
Among the major events not to be missed, also note in March: the centenary of the birth of Pierre Boulez, composer and conductorborn March 26, 1925, in Montbrison! The city will, for the occasion, pay tribute to Pierre Boulez. From the end of May to the beginning of July, the Saint-Étienne design biennial will take place for a 13th edition in a condensed mode over one month and Armenia will be “guest of honor”.
Finally, like every third weekend in September, the Renaissance Festivals of the Bird King will take place in Puy-en-Velay (Haute-Loire). This year, the 40th edition will be held from September 17 to 21: four days during which life in the 16th century in Velay will be recreated life-size in the streets of Puy.
Romain Bardet and ASSE
Finally, on the sports side, at the beginning of June, the Brioude cyclist Romain Bardet planned to stop his career at the end of the Critérium du Dauphiné, of which we will soon know the details of the eight stages. That said, the Altiligerian has just planned to change his bike and frame since he will switch to gravel, the bike for stony paths, with his sights set on the world championships in a discipline recently recognized by the UCI. It will be in Nice, in October.
On the football side, the women's Euro takes place this summer: fingers crossed we'll see Stéphanoise Cindy Caputo there.
As for Asse, the return derby will be on April 20 in the Chaudron. Hoping that, by then, the method of new coach Eirik Horneland bears fruit, may the combination between the Norwegian and Canadian investors work well and may the winter transfer window be rewarding! Finally, without any ill will (I promise), we will also closely follow the budgetary situation of OL, threatened with relegation by the financial policeman of French football if the accounts are not cleaned up.
