If you come in on the autoroute, running along the Rhône's left bank, you exit onto avenue Gambetta, with the old town, its ramparts replaced by boulevards, on your left. To the southeast of the old town are the gare routière, the gare SNCF and the tourist office on parvis de la Gare (June–Aug Mon–Sat 9am–7pm, Sun 9am–noon; Sept–May Mon 2–6.30pm, Tues–Sat 9am–12.30pm & 2–6.30pm; tel 04.75.44.90.40, www.tourisme-valence.com). The new TGV station is ten kilometres northeast, along the autoroute to Romans. There are regular shuttles and trains (daily 6.30am–10.46pm; €2) which connect the gare TGV with the gare SNCF.For mid-range hotel rooms, try the Europe, 15 av Félix-Faure (tel 04.75.82.62.65, fax 04.75.82.62.66; €30–40), with satellite TV and en-suite showers. If you want to splash out, Yan's Hotel has spacious rooms in a stylish modern building with park and pool south of the city on the rte de Montéléger (tel 04.75.55.52.52, www.yanshotel.com; €85–100). Among the many budget options are La Regina, 37 rue Denis Papin, across from the tourist office (tel 04.75.44.24.36; under €30), and the HI hostel, L'Epervière, on chemin de l'Epervière (tel 04.75.42.32.00, fax 04.75.56.20.67), by the Rhône, 2km south of the city (bus line #1); the hostel has good sports facilities – swimming pool, sailing – and bike rental, and has dorm beds for €10.80. The municipal campsite is in the hostel grounds (same number; all year).
| 