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Voykit pocket guide · France
Roanne
Spend a half‑day to see the historic centre and museum; one night in a city‑centre hotel if you want a relaxed evening.
Roanne is a small Loire‑river town about an hour from Lyon and Saint‑Étienne. Its main attractions – Château de Roanne, Notre‑Dame‑des‑Victoires and the Joseph‑Déchelette museum – are within walking distance, so a half‑day visit covers the sights; a night adds a relaxed dinner at a local restaurant.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–September
- Avoid
- January–February (cold, limited opening hours)
- Stay
- 1 night
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €45–65 excl. bed · Mid €70–100 excl. bed · High €120+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 15
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| STAR single bus ticket | €1.35 |
| Museum entry (Joseph‑Déchelette) | €4.70 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- LYS · Lyon–Saint‑Exupéry Airport
- About 1 h 15 min by TER train to Roanne station (check schedules).
Typical fares
- STAR bus single ticket
- €1.35 per ride (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
STAR bus network covers the town; single ticket €1.35. OuRA card can be topped up for bus and SNCF regional trains.
See and do
Known for
- Château de Roanne
- Notre‑Dame‑des‑Victoires church
- Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology Joseph‑Déchelette
- Roannaise wine
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Pérouges | TER to La Tour-de-Salvagny (45 min), then bus 7 min; total about 1 h | ≈1 h 15 min |
| Lyon | TER direct, 1 h 10 min | ≈1 h 20 min |
Sleep
- City centre hotels
- Close to STAR bus stops and the train station; suitable for one night.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Excuse me / Sorry | Pardonpardon |
| Thank you | Mercimerci |
| How much is it? | C’est combien ?sayt kom-byan |
| Where is the bus stop? | Où est l’arrêt de bus ?oo eh lar-reh duh byoo |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- Check museum opening days (may close Mondays).
- Bus schedules vary on weekends; confirm times at the exchange centre.
Roanne is a low‑crime town; stay aware of pickpockets on crowded buses and keep valuables out of sight.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Roanne yet. Suggested stay: 1 night. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Château de Roanne
- Notre‑Dame‑des‑Victoires church
- Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology Joseph‑Déchelette
- Roannaise wine
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikidata – Roanne: www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q12678
- Wikivoyage: Roanne, revision 4622769 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=4622769
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/roanne). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.