Your 1st day in the Drôme
Morning: sightseeing in Valence
- Come to the Tourist Office at 10am to start your day. Pick up the Valence sightseeing map. It is also available on the website here
- You are now ready to start your tour of the must-sees of Valence.
- From the Champ de Mars you'll have a great view and you can discover one of the most famous landmarks of Valence: Peynet bandstand . This bandstand is listed a historic monument.
- The Maison des Têtes has a rather surprising architectural design and owes its name to the many sculpted heads on its façade.
- Saint-Apollinaire Cathedral is one of the oldest monuments in Valence.
- Depending on your pace, you could also see the Porte Saint-Ruf, the Maison Mauresque and the Saint-Jean district.
- It takes around 2 hours to complete this tour on foot. In July and August you can also go on a tour of the town on a little train.
Lunchtime: Le Pas-Sage bistro
- Head to Pas-Sage at the Place des Clercs for lunch. This bistro serves Mediterranean cuisine and fish specialities.
- Go for a coffee at Good Bean Coffee . You might be tempted to treat yourself to one of their delicious cakes.
Afternoon: Centre of Armenian heritage
The Centre of Armenian Heritage tells the story of the Armenians who came to settle in the Drôme in the 1920s. There are themed guided tours organised at the weekend.
On Tuesdays, you can take a stroll around Saint Jean market (farmer's market).
Then go to the café La Bastille for a drink out on the terrace.
Another alternative is to go to Bancel where you can get a bite to eat and an early-evening cocktail.
Evening / overnight: evening show
What better a way to spend an evening than watching a show. Check the programme for the Lux Scène Nationale , Comédie de Valence and the Train Théâtre .
You'll be staying overnight at the Maisonnette de Valence. This independent guesthouse is in a quiet residential area, near the town centre.
Your 2nd day in the Drôme
Morning: bike ride
You can hire a bike at Carbone Zéro near the train station. Then off you go for a superb bike ride to discover the delicious local specialities.
Follow the ViaRhôna until you reach Tournon, then Tain l'Hermitage, for a pleasant route alongside the Rhône river.
Lunchtime: Comptoir Porcelana
You'll stop for lunch at Comptoir Porcelana, the restaurant inside the Cité du Chocolat.
It will most likely be the first time that you taste savoury cuisine that is made using chocolate.
Afternoon: Cité du Chocolat
After lunch, take a tour of the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona and learn about all the secrets of making chocolate.
After your tour, don't forget to stop by the Valrhona shop next door. It's the perfect opportunity to taste some of their creations and take some souvenirs home.
For the return journey to Valence, you can take your bikes on board the La Sapine and go on a boat trip down the Rhône (make sure you check the schedule). Or you can go back by bicycle the same way you came.
Evening / overnight: Burgers
L’Atelier du Burger , on Rue du Faubourg Saint Jacques, serves excellent burgers.
Then back to your guesthouse for your last overnight stay in the Drôme.
Your 3rd day in the Drôme
Morning: Cité de la Chaussure and sightseeing in Romans
Off you go to explore Romans-sur-Isère. Your morning begins at the Cité de la Chaussure . It takes 1 hour to visit this historic place. You will learn all about how shoes are made at the production workshops.
You can then explore the historic centre of Romans by following the sightseeing map.
Jacquemart tower has a monumental clock, huge bell and a mechanical figure.
The sightseeing tour then leads you to Saint-Barnard Collegiate Church . This beautiful church overlooks the banks fo the Isère. Enjoy the superb view!
Lunchtime: Columbus Café
For lunch, the baristas at Columbus Café will welcome you at the Marques Avenue shopping centre, for a delicious treat in a cosy and welcoming atmosphere.
Afternoon: Shopping at Marques Avenues
Marques Avenue Romans is a great place to go shopping.
This shopping centre is the perfect place to get some great bargains and benefit from big discounts off some major brands.