Saint Apollinaire Cathedral

Saint-Apollinaire Cathedral is one of Valence's oldest monuments. It stands at the center of the cathedral quarter, adjacent to the ancient Paleo-Christian baptistery and the episcopal palace (now a museum) to the south.

Consecrated on August 5, 1095 by Pope Urban II, it was destroyed during the Wars of Religion, then rebuilt identically in the 17th century.
The cathedral has undergone numerous modifications. In the 18th century, Bishop Alexandre Milon de Mesme lavishly refurbished his church. He financed the great organ and its case, a new marble altar and decorated the walls with master paintings. The monument to Pope Pius VI, who died in Valence in 1799 as a prisoner of the Directoire, was placed in the choir. The old bell tower-porch, which threatened to fall into ruin after being struck by lightning, was replaced in the 19th century. The cathedral was listed as a historic monument in 1869.

- While work is in progress, open house only on Saturdays, 2pm to 5pm. -

Service Ville Pays d'Art et d'Histoire Valence Romans Agglomération