Valentigney is a city in Doubs, in Burgundy, Franche-Comté, a few kilometers south of Montbeliard.
Most of its territory with an area of 9.7 km² is located on the left bank of the Doubs, whose course forms a loop and is a big part of the limits of the town.
This singular geography has long been a hindrance to the development of agriculture. Until the Revolution and attachment to France's Montbéliard County in 1793, the villagers had to cross the river to work more arable land and part of the population chose to emigrate to the United States at the end nineteenth century.
Paradoxically, it is in this period that Valentigney, home of the Peugeot family, began to industrialize and began a profound change.
With an estimated 10 500 people (after approaching the 15,000 in the 1970s), the city is still facing the industry but has maintained an overall green living environment and developed an expanded leisure offer.
In a metropolitan area in flux, always marked by the automotive sector, Valentigney proves a pleasant step.
The Protestant church and its beautifully crafted organ funded by Armand Peugeot in 1897 and the imposing Catholic church St. Michael was built from 1911 to 1914 but was not opened for worship once peace returned in 1918 are religiously the two major heritage buildings of the town.
For another part of the history and heritage of Valentigney towards the library of the city that bears the name of Etienne Oehmichen (1884-1955). A native of the Marne, this engineer and biologist moved into the city to work for Peugeot, where he multiplied the research, invented the stroboscope, imagined the first helicopters and laid the foundations of biomechanics. This is why the metal structure of a helicopter designed by Oehmichen prototype is suspended and attached on one of the walls of the building!
A work of art and science at a time! The library offers also regularly animations "reading" and exhibitions. Information +33 3 81 37 98 98.
One can also observe in the city home where this scientific non-standard was domiciled.
In another development, opposite the Town Hall, the Museum of Peasantry is housed in a farmhouse from 1766 enlarged in the late nineteenth century with materials from the old temple demolished in 1896. A typical rural interior of the region Montbéliard in the nineteenth century was restored there. Are also exposed materials, machinery, tools of farmers of old and presented different aspects of everyday life in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. Open 1st Sunday in April to the first Sunday in November on Mondays, Sundays and public holidays and by appointment on other days. Information +33 3 81 34 39 90.
In regard to arts and entertainment, the Georges Jonesco room (430 seats, 1000 standing) regularly varied entertainment program (music, theater) and sporting high-level meetings and the Esplanade Fernand Vurpillon, on the site of the former field fair, became a beautiful esplanade open air in 2015, and is open throughout the year fairs, festivals and other festive events, cultural or professional. All information +33 3 81 36 25 00.
Multisport pitches, tennis courts and other complete facilities for sports are located on the resort and open to visitors. Inquire +33 3 81 36 25 04.
Fishing enthusiasts wishing to enjoy the landscaped areas and shaded along the Doubs should contact the local association +33 6 75 02 99 76.
Finally, for hikes on the wooded and non-urbanized areas of the territory or join the European road bike that runs south of the city linking Europe from the east to the Atlantic via the Doubs, maps and information +33 3 81 94 45 60.
