Saint-Etienne is located in the Rhone-Alps and it is an area with diverse environments, from hills and pine forests to beautiful green valleys and snow-capped mountains. St. Etienne is an alternative entry place to Lyon, the biggest city in the area. The city is home to the most important art gallery of modern and contemporary art in France outside Paris - the splendid Museum of Modern Art, which hosts the works of Picasso and Warhol among others. Spring, summer and early autumn are the best times to enjoy this lush green stretch of France. In the area the visitor can discover historical towns dotted about the country-side carefully managed to maximise its potential for sightseers and active holiday-makers alike. Enjoying an almost-Mediterranean climate, the area's lakes, inland marina and rivers cater for water sports including wind-surfing and sailing while mountain-biking, golf, rambling and even skiing can be enjoyed in the higher reaches.