The 1,100-metre-long Promenade des Arts runs between the conservatory on Rue Ferrand and the Musée des Beaux-Arts. It offers a clearly defined route for a cultural break, while museums, art venues and markets each have their own focus. This gives you three distinct questions to consider when planning your trip: What kind of art interests you, would you like to include some exercise, and which market day suits your visit? Check the visiting arrangements for individual venues in advance if you plan a visit in particular.
Art and Heritage in Different Forms
The Musée des Beaux-Arts et de l’Archéologie de Valenciennes houses works by Rubens, Jean-Baptiste Carpeaux and Antoine Watteau. The Parc des Prix de Rome focuses on the origins and development of the Prix de Rome competition: sculptures, engravings and paintings trace more than four centuries. Two different perspectives meet here—the named artists in the museum collection and the long history of a competition in the park.
In Vieux-Valenciennes, eight information totems form a cultural and heritage trail through the city’s oldest cobbled streets, steeped in history. This route puts the streets and their history centre stage. L’H du siège offers another focus on contemporary art: the venue includes an exhibition gallery, artists’ studios and a live-work studio for artist residencies. It presents four exhibitions and hosts three artist residencies each year. Confirm the annual programme details before your trip.
Routes with Different Distance Profiles
The Chemins de la Forme network comprises connected sports and health routes, free, simple strengthening exercises and information about Valenciennes’ historical heritage. It includes a 4-kilometre circular route around Étang du Vignoble. Check access to the route and app functionality before setting out.
The routes can be distinguished by their length and layout: the Promenade des Arts is 1,100 metres long and runs between two named cultural venues; the route around Étang du Vignoble is a four-kilometre circular walk. This gives you a choice between a link connecting cultural stops and a loop around the lake. The strengthening exercises and heritage information add further topics to explore along the way as part of the Chemins de la Forme.
Choose Markets by Day of the Week and What They Offer
A market is held every Saturday from 7:30 am to 12:30 pm in the gardens of the Musée des Beaux-Arts on Place Verte, including on public holidays. Its location and regular hours make it an easy-to-plan stop during your visit. As the city describes the market as a weekly event, it is worth checking the schedule again before you go.
An organic market takes place on the first Sunday morning of each month, from 9 am to 12 pm, on Place Saint-Nicolas. It offers seasonal vegetables, meat, poultry, dairy products, baked goods, pastries and spices. On the third Sunday morning of each month, the local producers’ market on Place de la Barre brings together around 20 traders and producers selling regional products. The two Sunday markets therefore differ both in when they take place and in what is on offer: the organic market lists a broad range of product categories, while the producers’ market highlights regional products and its traders. Check the market dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Eppe-Sauvage, Ribécourt-La-Tour, La Gorgue, Seclin, Cappelle-La-Grande, Godewaersvelde, Bailleul, Sars-Poteries
For the main travel overview: Nord.
