Located only a 20 minutes drive from the campsite, Valence is the administrative centre of the department of Drôme, which has about 65,000 inhabitants and is the most populated city of the department.
Accessible by bike from the campsite via the cycling path and then following the Via Rhôna, the city enjoys an ideal geographic location because it is placed on the banks of the Rhone, between the Mount Ardeche and the Vercors Mountains.
Valence is accessible by car via the A49 motorway from Grenoble and the A7 (Lyon - Marseille). It can also be reached by train thanks to its two railway stations, including one located in the city centre (Valence Ville), and the second one slightly off-center ( Valence TGV), but which makes it possible to reach many destinations such as Paris, Lyon, Marseille, Montpellier, Nice, etc.
Because of its patrimony essentially concentrated in the old city, Valence was the first city inscribed in the national network of Cities Country of Art and History in 1985 thanks to the preservation of many architectural treasures, including its remains of Roman art (Saint Jean Church and the Saint Apollinaire Cathedral), and Renaissance buildings such as the Maison des Têtes, with Gothic decor.
The Valence Museum of Art and Archeology is also located in the historic centre of Valence and includes a library of 10,000 works specializing in Art and Archeology as well as documentation and archives on the collections.
Other emblematic sites have also made the city famous, like the Pendentif, a 16th century funerary monument, or the Kiosque Peynet, famous for its lovers. You can also stroll between the Champ de Mars and the Parc Jouvet, a true haven of greenery in the heart of downtown.
The city is also known for its varied gastronomy, which you can especially discover at its finest at the markets of Vieux Valence that take place on Thursday and Saturday morning at the Place des Clercs. Here you can buy and taste local products from the producers as well as through the many gourmet and traditional restaurants.