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Interesting Facts
- One of the more macabre structures in Valence, the Maison des Têtes, or "House of Heads," is a 16th century building with a flamboyant façade of the sculpted heads of notable ancient Greeks such as Aristotle, Homer, and Hippocrates. The medieval Gothic architecture even extends to the courtyard.
- Although it was originally built in about 1095, the Cathédrale St-Apollinaire had to be reconstructed in the 17th century after it was damaged during the Wars of Religion. Nowadays, the cathedral is the focal point of the city, and buzzes with activity virtually every day. The chapels radiate from the ambulatory, while the southern portal features the original carved tympanum depicting Christ administering the Benediction. Roman lintels portray Christ multiplying the loaves of bread. There's also a monument to Pius VI, who died at Valence in 1799.
- One of the largest collections of footwear in the world, the prestigious Le Musée International de la Chaussure (International Shoe Museum) contains some 8000 pieces, and is housed in the former Convent of the Visitation. It spans shoe design from ancient times to the present and includes pieces from all cultures, classes, and civilizations, as well as contemporary designers such as Stephane Kelian and Charles Jourdan.
- Between the cathedral and the Eglise de St-Jean there are numerous quaint, narrow streets, called cotes. They're the oldest streets in Valence, meaning that you can walk in the footsteps of previous visitors such as Rabelias and Napolean.
- France's most well-known jump jockey, Philippe Chevalier, was born in 1966 in Valence. Chevalier has been at the top of his sport for more than 15 years.
- Valence has a sizable Armenian population, who supported the construction of a unique memorial to the 1.5 million victims of the 1915 Armenian genocide in Turkey.
- If you're looking for something a bit more out of the ordinary, head for the tiny village of Hautrives, about 30 miles north of Valence. There you'll find Le Palais Idéal du Facteur Cheval, the Postman's Palace. Here's the story. In 1879, Ferdinand Cheval was walking his usual 32 kilometer postal route when he tripped over an unusual stone, which he saved. In time, Cheval was carting home pockets full of stones and over the course of the next 33 years, and with no art or architecture training whatsoever, he constructed an elaborate palace in his front garden. Today, the palace receives over 120,000 visitors a year. Definitely a side trip worth taking!
- Historic trivia: In 2BC, the Romans first named the city Valentia. There has been a university in Valence since 1452, and when he was just 16, Napolean attended military school here.
- Valence's economy is driven by industries including metallurgical products, textiles, leather goods, jewelry, and munitions. In fact, the Arsenal, one of the oldest gunpowder factories in France, is located in Valence.
- So when is the best time to go to Valence? Race fans will want to visit in February, when the European Motocross International races kick off. Music lovers will prefer July, for the month-long Summer Music Festival. Held in the Old Town, the event features street performances and concerts by musicians from around the world. Gardeners on the other hand, may want to shoot for October, for the annual Symphonies Florales at the Parc de Expositions de Valence. Attended by presenters and guests from around the world, the event offers demonstrations and useful tips that anyone from professional horticulturists to backyard gardeners can find helpful.
