FAQ

The Cité du Chocolat Valrhona is a unique place located in Tain l’Hermitage (Drôme region) that invites visitors of all ages to immerse themselves in the world of chocolate.

You'll discover the secrets of chocolate making, participate in delicious workshops, and taste Valrhona chocolates, a favorite among top pastry chefs and chocolatiers.

The Cité du Chocolat is open year-round (except for specific public holidays). Opening hours may vary depending on the season and events. Please consult the opening hours and prices page for up-to-date information.

A visit to the Cité lasts on average between 1.5 and 2.5 hours, depending on your pace, the tastings, and the areas you wish to explore.

Yes, photos are allowed (unless otherwise indicated in certain areas or workshops).

The tour is not guided ; it is a self-guided tour. The time slots correspond to a safety gauge.

The Cité du Chocolat is air-conditioned. For optimal chocolate preservation, the tour and dining areas (especially during the summer months) can be cool. Do not hesitate to take something to cover yourself. Aprons are provided for the pastry workshops. However, for hygiene and safety reasons, closed-toe shoes are mandatory to access the workshops. Failure to comply with this rule may result in being refused entry to the workshop, without the possibility of a refund.

Yes, you can purchase gift vouchers valid for the tour, workshops, and the shop.

Yes, Valrhona chocolates are available on the official online store Valrhona Collection with delivery throughout France. The Tain l'Hermitage boutique also accepts orders via email or telephone at +33 4 75 09 27 27 with Chronopost shipping throughout France.

For hygiene and safety reasons, the chocolate factory is not open to the public. A space entirely dedicated to chocolate making immerses you in the behind-the-scenes process of chocolate production.

Prices vary depending on age and ticket type (adult, child, family, group). Discounts are available for families, students, groups, etc.

You can buy your tickets directly online on our website (recommended, especially during school holidays), or on-site at the Cité's reception desk. Some services, such as pastry classes and workshops, require prior online booking (not possible on the day).

Yes, the tickets are dated to ensure optimal comfort during your visit. You choose your time slot when purchasing online.

Yes, we offer packages including the visit, a workshop, and/or a meal at the Comptoir Porcelana restaurant.

For tickets purchased at the museum entrance, you can pay by :
• Credit/debit cards, cash
• Checks are no longer accepted at the entrance ticket booths, in the shops, or at the food outlets.
• We do not give change for Chèques Vacances and Chèques Vacances Connect, but you can pay the exact amount with another payment method.

We offer a special rate for : young people over 13, students, groups of more than 10 people, people with disabilities, and job seekers upon presentation of proof of status.

The Cité du Chocolat is located in the heart of the Rhône Valley, in Tain l’Hermitage (26600), approximately 1 hour from Lyon and 2.5 hours from Marseille.

As the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona is located in the city center (on the edge of the RN7), parking can sometimes be difficult (so please plan your visit in advance). However, numerous free parking lots are located very close to our visitor center.

Committed to a sustainable and eco-responsible approach, we encourage our visitors to use low-carbon transportation whenever possible.

- By train : Tain l’Hermitage-Tournon train station 10 minutes walk.
- By bike : Following the Rhône River, take the ViaRhôna cycle route. Just 1 minute from the ViaRhôna, you'll find the Cité du Chocolat. Bike sheds is available in the gardens of the Cité.
- By car : 1 hour from Lyon via the A7 highway (Tain l'Hermitage exit).

You can park your bike or motorcycle in the École du Grand Chocolat bike shed (Quai Général de Gaulle). All bike sheds are free and unsupervised. To ensure your vehicle security, we recommend bringing a lock.

Charging stations are available in the Général de Gaulle car park.

There is a dedicated car park for campervan / motorhomes during the day next to the Pierre Besson gymnasium. The municipal campsite Les Lucs, located 1968 feet away, offers dedicated pitches with a superb view of the Rhône and the Hermitage hills.

For a comfortable visit, favor periods outside of school holidays. The early morning or early afternoon are usually quieter moments. Public holidays and bad weather are usually very busy days. To save time, you can buy your tickets online. With your smartphone, directly present your tickets without printing them.

No, all the spaces in the Cité du Chocolat are non-smoking areas. The electronic cigarette is also prohibited inside.

The visit is an immersive discovery of the tour route, with throughout about fifteen tastings offered, free activities and access to temporary exhibitions.

Yes ! The Cité offers different workshops for adults, children and families: making chocolate candies, introduction to tempering, creative pastries, chocolate & coffee pairings... Workshops must be booked (limited places).

Yes, the Comptoir Porcelana restaurant welcomes you for lunch or a snack. You will enjoy creative cuisine based on chocolate and local products.

Yes, the Cité du Chocolat shop allows you to buy the entire Valrhona range as well as exclusive boxes, pastry accessories and gourmet books.

Yes, we offer guided tours, educational programs for school groups, and customized activities for adult groups and activity centers. Reservations are required.
For more information, please contact our group department at +33 4 75 09 27 90.

The answer depends on the type of group. For school groups, we advise to foresee a maximum of half a day. However, for adult groups of up to 30 people, a pastry workshop can be offered in addition to the tour and lunch on-site, making a full-day visit possible.

Absolutely ! We offer corporate packages that include a guided tour of the Cité du Chocolat, fully equipped meeting rooms, collaborative chocolate workshops, and catering at the Comptoir Porcelana. For more information, please contact our group booking department at +33 4 75 09 27 90

There is one authorized bus parking area located next to the Pierre Besson gymnasium (Rue du Dr Tournaire, 26600 Tain-l'Hermitage), 492 feet from the Cité du Chocolat. Please note that drop-off is prohibited in front of the museum (under penalty of fines) to avoid blocking the RN7.

Picnic tables are available in the gardens of the Cité du Chocolat. Pergolas of approximately 215 ft ² are available in case of bad weather. However, there is no picnic room nearby.

Yes, free lockers are available directly at the entrance to the tour.

For hygiene reasons, animals are not allowed in the Cité du Chocolat. Only guide dogs (in training or fully trained) and assistance dogs for people with disabilities are accepted and may accompany their owners throughout the various areas of the Cité du Chocolat. Animals are also not allowed in the Valrhona boutique, even in cages or closed baskets.

You can download the map from our website. Upon arrival at the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona, you will be given a detailed visitor map in French or English.

Free Wi-Fi is available throughout the Cité du Chocolat.

Yes, changing tables are located in the restroom upstairs and in the women's restroom downstairs.

High-chairs for babies are available in our restaurant, the Comptoir Porcelana restaurant.

Picnic tables are available in the gardens of the Cité du Chocolat.

Committed to sustainable tourism, we no longer provide disposable cups along the tour route. You are welcome to bring your own water bottle; water fountains are available throughout the tour. If you do not have your own container, a reusable cup is available at the museum reception for a 1€ price.

Yes, all areas are accessible to people with reduced mobility. A wheelchair is available upon request ; please inquire at the museum reception.

Yes, an elevator and ramps are available to access the first floor. Wheelchair access is adapted throughout the museum, and the furniture is adapted for people with reduced mobility.

Yes, there is parking for people with disabilities in the Valrhona School parking lot (8 rue Général de Gaulle).

An app is available for visually impaired and hearing impaired visitors at the reception desk.

Guide dogs and assistance dogs for people with disabilities are welcome and can accompany their owners throughout the visit.

Since 2015, the Cité du Chocolat has been awarded the "Tourisme & Handicap" label for motor, intellectual, hearing, and visual impairments. If you are an individual and hold a Disability Inclusion Mobility Card, you are entitled to a discount on the full price upon presentation of your card at the entrance ticket booths. If the Disability Inclusion Mobility Card indicates "need for assistance" or "need for assistance due to blindness," the accompanying person will receive free admission.

Yes, if you hold a Disability Inclusion Mobility Card with an 80% disability rating or a Priority Disability Inclusion Mobility Card.