Almost 17 kilometres of open canals, a cathedral consecrated in 1095 and a viewpoint with 360-degree views give Valence several distinct facets. You can tailor your stay to your interests: architectural and cultural history, urban green spaces or a cycling route. When looking for a hotel in Valence, it also helps to decide first what you would like to focus on in the city.

Canals and green spaces in Valence

The Canaux de Valence comprise almost 17 kilometres of open canals and form a habitat with remarkable biodiversity among animal and plant life. Parc Jouvet offers a different focus: this seven-hectare green space lies in the heart of Valence and has held the “Jardin remarquable” designation since 2006. Together, they showcase two different aspects of nature: the Canaux, with their waterways and wildlife, and Parc Jouvet, a large green space in the middle of the city. If you want to include nature in your travel plans, you can explore these two distinct features.

Routes and cycling

The Parcours Jouvet / Épervière is five to six kilometres long, depending on the route you choose. By bicycle, the route takes about 30 minutes. The distance therefore depends on the route, while the approximate cycling time gives you a guide to how long this mode of travel takes. When planning, you can focus either on the distance or on the approximate cycling time.

The Tain-l’Hermitage–Valence section of the ViaRhôna extends to the Épervière site in Valence. It offers a different route reference from the Parcours Jouvet / Épervière, where the focus is on route length and cycling time. This lets you decide whether to plan around the named ViaRhôna section or the variable details of the Parcours.

Buildings and their history

Saint-Apollinaire Cathedral is one of the oldest buildings in Valence. Pope Urban II consecrated it on 5 August 1095, and it has been listed as a historic monument since 1869. Le Pendentif, in the cathedral’s cloister, was built in 1548 as a tomb monument for Canon Mistral. As early as 1840, it was among the first monuments in France to be classified as a monument. These dates mark different events: the cathedral’s consecration, the construction of the tomb monument, and the classification of both buildings. They help put these historical milestones in chronological context without confusing consecration with classification.

La Maison des Têtes offers another cultural focus. It was built in the early 16th century by Antoine De Dorne, a university professor and consul of Valence. Today, the building houses Valence’s Centre for the Interpretation of Architecture and Heritage. Its construction and present-day function offer two perspectives on the same house: its origins in the early 16th century and its role today in interpreting architecture and heritage.

Scenic views and choosing accommodation

At the Musée de Valence – Art et Archéologie, a viewpoint offers 360-degree views across the Rhône Valley, the Ardèche and the Vercors. This offers a different focus from the cathedral and historic houses: rather than a single building, the view takes in three named landscape areas. If you want to combine culture and landscapes, you can make this viewpoint a focus in its own right alongside the city’s architectural history.

The Rhône, the A7 motorway, National Route 7 and the Paris–Marseille TGV line are important transport and communications routes for Valence. They add a transport-related perspective on the city to its cultural and landscape features. When looking for hotels in Valence, you can first decide what you want your stay to focus on, then set your personal accommodation criteria.

Discover more destinations: Geyssans, Soyans, Reilhanette, Treschenu-Creyers, Pont-De-Barret, Grignan, Roynac, Lus-La-Croix-Haute

For the broader travel overview: Drôme.