Valenciennes

In the heart of Valenciennes, the Royal Hainaut Spa & Resort proudly embodies the spirit of Northern France and the French art of living.
Housed in a former 18th-century general hospital, this remarkable building has been transformed into a refined 4-star museum hotel, where classical elegance meets contemporary design.

One of the locals’ favourite spots is the praline and tea room of Valenciennes’ master chocolatier, Christophe Tahier, on Place Verte.
Take a seat on the sunny terrace and enjoy Toffines, pralines in seven flavours, and the chocolatier’s other creations.

For those feeling creative, small-group workshops are held in the chocolatier’s studio, where you can craft your own sweet treats and uncover a few of the master’s secrets.

One of the city’s cultural highlights is undoubtedly the Museum of Fine Arts.
It houses major paintings and sculptures by Prix de Rome laureates such as Carpeaux, Abel de Pujol, Gustave Crauk, Jacques Saly, Henri Lemaire and Ernest Hiolle. Other galleries are dedicated to art from the first half of the 20th century.

The museum also features a remarkable collection of 17th-century Flemish art, with works by Rubens, Jordaens and Van Dyck. Beyond its collections, the building itself is a landmark, standing as a striking example of the monumental style of France’s Third Republic.