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The canals

Valence's Canals

With every change in land level in Valence a spring gushes forth.Over the centuries, this intricate network of brooks has been harnessed, purified and maintained by our ancestors for traditional purposes: farm and market gardening, irrigation, sources of energy for mills and sawmills, for wash houses, fish farming and public baths. Today, gardeners and anglers alike can make use of this wealth of water to their heart's content. Eight of the forty kilometres are open to walkers who can stroll along the Canal " des Moulins", "Les Malcontents" and ' Grande Marquise". The canals are an original and still unknown part of Valence's heritage.

Parks

Valence's 8 urban parks offer you a haven of peace for quiet walks and playing games.

PARC JOUVET

Beautifully laid out and located in the very heart of the city, Jouvet Park is a splendour of foliage, water and flowers. Majestic natural archways formed by century old trees make two agreeable areas for walkers seeking tranquillity and refreshment.

PARC DE L'EPERVIERE

The park's major attraction is the sailing port which makes it an ideal place for walking along the water front o why not test your fitness out on the keep-fit assault course.

PARC JEAN PERDRIX

With its vast stretch of water and two futuristic water towers standing side by side and designed by PHILOLAOS, this is Valence's largest urban park covering 50 acres of land.

The other parks to visit are :

• the park Itchevan, the most recently created park with its entrance on the " avenue de Provence "
• the park " Polygone" in peaceful surroundings which are greatly appreciated by the local residents.
• The " parc des Trinitaires" with its entrance on the avenue Maurice Faure is a nature reserve in the heart of the city.
• Benjamin Delessert Park :botany and astronomy trails

Botany and astronomy trails

THE BOTANICAL VILLAGE AT MONTELIER

Le Jardin de la Flore -TEL 04 75 59 93 93.

Discover a minimum of 150 different varieties of plants ,on a given theme, all labelled and recorded on index cards for the visitors.

Follow the trail with its decorative shrubs and trees and the wild berries some of which are edible. Who knows, behind the enchanting foliage you may even catch sight of a fairy queen bathing in a fountain

ASTRONOMY TRAIL AT BEAUMONT LES VALENCE

A six mile ramble through our solar system on a scale of a thousand millionth. Come into close contact with our cosmological environment in a simple and pleasant way.

Find out more about our solar system with its 9 planets, the sun , the moon, comets and asteroids. Use a sun dial to discover new dimensions to the sun, the weather and the constellations and read about it all on display panels.