VALENCE

town, capital of Drme dpartement, Rhne-Alpes rgion, southeastern France. Valence lies on the left bank of the Rhne River. Built on a succession of terraces bordering the Rhne, the town is dominated by the ancient Cathedral of Saint-Apollinaire, which was consecrated by Pope Urban II in 1095 and completed early in the 12th century. Damage done to the cathedral during the Wars of Religion (156998) was repaired in the 17th century. The Champ de Mars, a vast esplanade south of the cathedral, offers a fine view of the Rhne River valley. Valence probably became a bishopric in the 4th century and was ruled by its bishops until Louis XI in 1450 persuaded them to give up their temporal power in exchange for royal protection and a university (suppressed after the French Revolution). Valence is a commercial centre for the fruit and vegetable products of the Rhne River valley and manufactures jewelry and textiles. Pop. (1990) 65,026.