Car hire in Valence positions you perfectly between the Rhône Valley and the entrance to Provence. This elegant city, known for its cuisine and as the gateway to the Drôme, offers easy access to both northern routes towards Lyon and southern roads into the lavender fields and hilltop villages of Provence. It’s an ideal starting point for a road trip through southeastern France.
Getting Around Valence by Car
Valence’s historic centre is walkable, with the Place des Clercs and Cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire at its heart. Street parking costs around €1 per hour, with several underground car parks available. The city sits on the A7 autoroute du Soleil, the main route from Lyon to the Mediterranean.
Driving in Valence is straightforward outside rush hours. The boulevards around the centre can get busy between 8-9am and 5-6pm, but traffic flows reasonably well. The A7 passes west of the city, with several exits serving different districts.
The surrounding Drôme department offers some of France’s most beautiful driving roads. The D roads wind through vineyards, lavender fields, and limestone cliffs. In summer, these routes come alive with colour — purple lavender in June and July, sunflowers in August.
Day Trips from Valence
Montélimar, 30 minutes south, is famous for nougat. Several factories offer tours and tastings. The Château des Adhémar, a medieval fortress with contemporary art exhibitions, sits above the town with sweeping views.
Drive 40 minutes northeast to Tain-l’Hermitage, a wine town famous for its northern Rhône wines. The Hermitage and Crozes-Hermitage appellations produce some of France’s finest syrah-based reds. Several domaines offer tastings, and the suspended bridge across the Rhône to Tournon makes a scenic detour.
Dieulefit, 40 minutes east, is a charming pottery village in the Drôme Provençale. Its Saturday market draws locals from across the region. Continue into the hills to Saou, a village nestled beneath dramatic limestone cliffs with a forest that’s perfect for hiking.
Grignan, 35 minutes southeast, features the stunning Château de Grignan — the largest Renaissance château in southeastern France. The village itself is picture-perfect, with golden stone buildings and views across lavender fields.
Driving Tips for France
The A7 through Valence is one of France’s busiest motorways, particularly in summer when holiday traffic heads south. Expect congestion on weekends in July and August. Avoid driving the A7 southbound on Saturdays, northbound on Sundays — this is when the entire country seems to be on the move.
Speed cameras are frequent on the A7. The limit is 130km/h in dry conditions, 110km/h in rain. Radar detectors are illegal and carry heavy fines — even if you’re just using your phone’s speed camera alert app.
Péage booths on the A7 are increasingly automated. Take a ticket at entry and pay at exit. Credit cards work at most booths. If you’re driving a lot, consider the Liber-t automatic toll tag, which works across French motorways.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Valence a good stop on the way to Provence?
Ideal. It’s roughly halfway between Lyon and Avignon, with excellent restaurants for lunch. The cuisine here is outstanding — Valence has more Michelin stars per capita than most French cities. Book ahead if you want to eat at Maison Pic.
Can I drive to the lavender fields from Valence?
Yes — the Drôme Provençale starts just east of the city. Fields bloom from mid-June to mid-July. Drive towards Nyons, Grignan, and Dieulefit for the best displays. Bring a map — GPS can route you onto narrow farm tracks.
What’s the drive like to Lyon?
About 1 hour 15 minutes north on the A7. The road follows the Rhône through vineyards and orchards. Lyon traffic can be heavy — consider parking at a metro station on the outskirts and taking public transport into the centre.