Abstract EN:

After the French revolution, Saint-Etienne, wich is the most populated city in the Loire departement, stands out as an important urban and industrial centre although it is miles away from major trade routes. The diversity of the buildings is clearly shown through a careful study of the urban structure while on the other hand, the grow of the city reveals its ill-equipment. Ambitious town plannings along with a determined local policy from the town councilors lead to the creation of a new district in spite of low public founds. The economic growth is still identified with proto-industrial structures : the domestic system is the major rule in such economic fields as ribbon, arms and hardware. However this disorganized system does not prevent vitality and innovation from emerging in the ribbon industry. The appearence of siderurgy as well as the modernization of the coal bassin is delayed by the blockade. Administrative officials, nobles and landowners are very scarce in Saint-Etienne. The population is made up of working class people and the trading elite. With a high birth rate, the population increases significantly. Saint-Etienne attracts country people from neighbouring villages and from Haute-Loire. The ribbon manufacturers rule over the city : they are austere, hard-working, reticent and uneducated. The working class is complex because halfway between craftsmen and the proletariat. Because of recurrent economic crises, the working people remain potential paupers