When Wine and Truffle Meet
Enjoy a tasting of fresh market truffles on toasted bread with butter and fleur de sel, perfectly paired with local wines.
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Valréas
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City
ℹ️Practical info — Valréas
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🌤 Weather — 5 days
📍 Nearby
Sights nearby
💡 Tips
- Wander through the historic center, which follows the circular layout of the former medieval walls.
- Park outside the old town to avoid the narrow, winding streets in the center.
- Note the unique administrative status: it is entirely cut off from the rest of the Vaucluse department.
- Summer afternoons are very hot; explore the town early in the morning or late afternoon.
🍽 Food
🍽
Côtes du Rhône Wines
Sample local Enclave des Papes wines at tasting rooms scattered around the main square.
🍽
Truffles
In winter months, look for local bistros incorporating fresh black truffles into their dishes.
🍽
Provençal Tapenade
Enjoy this olive and caper spread on crusty bread at a terrace café in the old town.
🛍 Shopping · 🧘 Quiet spots
🛍
Provençal Market
Visit the local market for lavender products, olive oil, and handmade soaps.
🛍
Cartonnage (Cardboard craft)
Valréas is historically known for cardboard box making; look for specialty craft shops selling decorative boxes.
🧘
Château de Simiane
The courtyards and small gardens of this historic building offer a very peaceful retreat.
🧘
Place Aristide Briand
A calm, tree-lined square excellent for sitting under the plane trees away from the main traffic.
Water temperature…
Highlights of 2026
10
Discovery of Fragonard's Eau de Hongrie
Celebrate the 400th anniversary of Marquise de Sévigné by discovering Fragonard's famous scent at the Brin d'Arômes perfumery in Grignan.
White Truffle Market
Enjoy summer truffles on the sunny terrace of L’Escapade, hosted by the talented chef Nicolas Pailhès in an exceptional setting.
Entre Mers Vocal Group Concert
Women's voices performing songs from the Caucasus and the Near East, guided by Cécile Pagès on saz, shruti, and percussion.
Music in Salles-sous-Bois
Enjoy live performances by three bands in the village square starting at 7 PM, with food and drinks available on site.
Valreas Bike X-perience
A cycling-themed event featuring tours, professional bike shows, and refreshments for all cycling fans in Valréas.
Night of Petit Saint Jean
Step back five centuries in time at Valréas to witness this legendary historic festival and experience the past firsthand.
Literary Meeting
Join author Daniel Arsand as he presents his latest book 'Revers' and shares insights into his writing process.
Fête de la Musique
Amateur and professional musicians take turns on stage for a superb celebration of music across the city's public spaces.
Between Vines and Lights
At nightfall, embark on an immersive stroll through the vineyards, transformed by light shows and projections that tell the story of the site.
Valréas is a town of unique historical and geographical standing, serving as the capital of the 'Enclave des Papes'. This territory is a fragment of the Vaucluse department entirely landlocked within the Drôme department, a geopolitical anomaly stemming from the 14th century when Pope John XXII purchased the land for the Papacy. The town's architecture is a testament to its wealthy past, featuring the majestic Château de Simiane with its grand Renaissance courtyard and the Romanesque Church of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth. Beyond its historical intrigues, Valréas is a hub of Provencal culture and gastronomy. It is renowned for its premium Côtes-du-Rhône wines and is a major center for the trade of black truffles. Intriguingly, Valréas is also considered the birthplace of the French cardboard industry; in the 19th century, Ferdinand Revoul invented specialized boxes here to safely transport silkworm eggs. Visitors today can experience a quintessential Provencal atmosphere, characterized by bustling markets, lavender-scented air, and the 'Corso de la Lavande' festival, which celebrates the local heritage and agricultural abundance.
- Location: Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France
- Top sights: Simiane Castle · Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth Church · Museum of Cardboard and Printing
- Nearby: Nyons (12 km)
- Population: ~9.689
Best time to visit & climate
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun–Aug.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Avg °C | 2 | 3 | 7 | 11 | 15 | 20 | 23 | 22 | 17 | 13 | 7 | 3 |
| Rain mm | 53 | 44 | 51 | 62 | 69 | 47 | 38 | 43 | 68 | 92 | 104 | 59 |
Geography
Facts
- Pope John XXII acquired Valréas in 1317.
- The Château de Simiane dates from the 16th century.
- Valréas is the cradle of the French cardboard industry.
- The town sits at an average altitude of 250 meters.
- Local vineyards carry the AOC Côtes du Rhône Villages label.
- The Lavender Corso festival has been held annually since 1932.
Explore nearby
Notable places around
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Sights in the town Valréas (5)
Frequently asked questions
What is the Enclave des Papes?
Valréas is the center of an area that belongs to the Vaucluse department but is located within Drôme.
When is the lavender parade?
The Corso de la Lavande takes place every year on the first weekend of August.
What wines are produced in Valréas?
The town is known for its Côtes-du-Rhône Villages wines, especially red wines.
What can you visit in the historic center?
Visit the Château de Simiane and the 12th-century Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth church.
Is there a museum in the town?
Yes, the Musée du Cartonnage et de l'Imprimerie shows the history of the cardboard and printing industry.
Valréas: where is it located?
Valréas is located in Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, France.
Valréas: what is there to see?
Highlights include Simiane Castle, Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth Church, Museum of Cardboard and Printing.
Valréas: when is the best time to visit?
The most pleasant time to visit is Jun, Aug.
Valréas: why is it worth visiting?
Valréas is a town of unique historical and geographical standing, serving as the capital of the 'Enclave des Papes'.
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