The Valence Museum
The Valence Museum of Art and Archaeology, harmoniously blending ancient and modern, takes you back in time, throught the history of man and the arts, from regional prehistory to contemporary art. There are also magnificient viewing points including a unique 360° panorama over the Rhone Valley.
Description
Officially created in 1850, it has been housed since 1911 in the former episcopal palace, a vast mansion between a courtyard of honor and a private garden that retains many traces of its centuries-old history: a fortified 12th-century episcopal tower, an ogival gallery, painted ceilings from the 15th and 17th centuries, and more.
Its collections, comprising more than 20,000 works, offer a broad overview of human history and the arts, from regional prehistory to contemporary art, in a redesigned layout.
The Archaeology section traces the history of the civilizations that occupied the Drôme and the middle Rhône Valley, from modern times back to prehistory.
The Art section, which brings together paintings, drawings, sculptures, and decorative arts, features numerous works on the theme of landscape, from its reinterpretation by contemporary artists to its “invention” in the 16th century as an autonomous genre.
Opening period
From 02/01 to 31/12 on Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and weekends between 10 am and 12.30 pm and between 2 pm and 6 pm. Closed on Monday, Tuesday and bank holidays.
Spoken languages
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English
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French
English
French
Environments
- Town location
- Close to a motorway
- In centre of town
- Close to a public transportation
- Pedestrian area
- Bus stop < 500 m
- Overview on river
- In the historic centre
- Panoramic view
- Cycle track/route within 500 m
- Less than 10 min walk from a train station
- Less than 10 minutes from a train station by bike
- Less than 10 minutes from a bus stop on foot
Equipment
- Lift
- Toilets
- Air conditioning
- Exhibition space
- Book shop
- Parking nearby
Services
- Educational visits
- Shop
- Guided tours
- Stroller-accessible
Prices
Full price: 9 €
Reduced price: 7 €
Audioguide: 2 €.
Free entry for children under 18, accompanying guides, subscribers, Job-seeker, the supervisors, the students.
Payment
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Bank/credit card
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Travellers Cheque
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Cash
- Connect Travellers Cheque
Prestation d'activités
- Activity
- Children's entertainment
- Temporary exhibition
- Handicrafts workshops
- Permanent exhibition
Adapted tourism
- Accessible for self-propelled wheelchairs
- Even flooring with no obstacles
- Doors >=77 cm wide
- Lift (80 x 130 cm) and door >= 77 cm
- Easy French documentation