Discover Tain-L'hermitage

Tain-L'hermitage brings together chocolate culture, vineyards and historic buildings. The following points highlight the themes that shape the town.

Getting there and finding your way

Tain-l'Hermitage–Tournon SNCF station is a ten-minute walk from the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona. Direct trains serve routes from Valence, Lyon and Avignon. If one of these connections matters for your trip, check the timetable for your travel day. This makes rail travel a separate point to consider when planning, regardless of which activities interest you locally.

For cyclists, the ViaRhôna is another useful landmark: the cycle route runs along the banks of the Rhône and is only about a minute from the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona. The station and the cycle route are thus connected to the Cité in different ways. These details help you plan your arrival and route along the river, without implying a connection between the two.

Experience chocolate

The Cité du Chocolat Valrhona offers a self-guided, interactive chocolate tour. It includes tastings, sensory experiences, immersive films, interactive games and pastry demonstrations. The tour therefore explores chocolate in a variety of ways and offers more than a simple product presentation.

The experience at the Valrhona boutique in the heart of the Cité begins with a tasting. Expert advisors invite visitors to sample pralines, chocolate bars, cocoa beans and fine chocolates, and offer guidance on their choices. The products available to choose from may change. The tour and the boutique have different focuses: one features interactive experiences and demonstrations, while the other focuses on tasting and advice about chocolate products.

Historic buildings and their stories

The Notre-Dame Church was rebuilt between 1811 and 1838 on the ruins of the Notre-Dame Church of a Cluniac priory. It was also the setting for the wedding of Charles V, the future King of France, and Jeanne de Bourbon, celebrated in 1350. Its carillon consists of 13 bells. These include a 1.5-tonne bourdon bell with a diameter of 1.20 metres: it dates from the year 1000 and was recast in 1644.

The Passerelle Marc Seguin and the Porte de la Bâtie also reflect the town's history. The Passerelle dates from 1849 and is reserved exclusively for pedestrians. The Porte de la Bâtie, with its Tour des Adrets, is a surviving remnant of Tain-L'hermitage's medieval fortifications and was recently restored.

Routes, vineyards and views

The footpath from Place du Taurobole to the Hermitage Chapel takes about 45 minutes and leads to the summit, where you can enjoy the view. The Chapelle Hermitage Paul Jaboulet Aîné was built around 1100 and can be reached via a hiking trail that starts in Tain-L'hermitage. Conditions on this trail may vary seasonally. Another option is the four-kilometre marked “Sur les Pas de Gambert” discovery trail run by the Cave de Tain, which passes through the Hermitage terroirs. Along the way, it offers insights into the geology, terraced viticulture and grape varieties.

The main difference between these routes is their focus: the footpath to the Hermitage Chapel leads to a viewpoint, while “Sur les Pas de Gambert” focuses on geology and viticulture. For a guided ride through the Hermitage vineyards, the Petit Train des Vignes is another option for an outing. It departs from Tain-L'hermitage and offers views of the Rhône's meanders. On foot or by train, you can experience different perspectives on the wine-growing area.

Discover more destinations: Buis-Les-Baronnies, Saint-Marcel-Lès-Sauzet, Chateauneuf Sur Isere, Mirmande, Tersanne, Cléon-D'andran, La Bâtie-Rolland, Châteauneuf-Du-Rhône.

For the wider travel overview: Drôme.