History of the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona
A desire to open Valrhona's behind-the-scenes to the public
The origin of a unique place dedicated to chocolate
The idea of creating La Cité du Chocolat Valrhona arose from the various educational events initiated by Valrhona. In 1992, the "Destination Chocolat" exhibition was already a success. Faced with this enthusiasm and the numerous requests for tours of the chocolate factory, Valrhona saw the need to open its doors to the public as a matter of course. As early as 2006, Valrhona conceived a plan to introduce as many people as possible to the richness of the world of chocolate ! After several years of study and development, La Cité du Chocolat was inaugurated in 2013 in Tain l'Hermitage, in a building adjacent to its production site and its historic shop.
Chocolate, a meeting point for enthusiasts and curious
A place for sharing, encounters, and knowledge transfer
Experiential learning is one of the Cité du Chocolat's greatest strengths, but it is also within these sensory experiences that another of the Cité key objectives takes place: encounters.
Encounters between professionals, pastry lovers, children of all ages, apprentice pastry chefs, responsible tourists… all are brought together around chocolate ! Sharing and knowledge transfer are among the essential values of the Cité du Chocolat.
A living Cité that constantly renews itself
Another strength of this "living" place is precisely its ability to renew itself through evolving scenography, regularly updated workshops, new experiences, temporary exhibitions - in short, everything designed to enchant the public year-round.
It is with this aim of sustainably enchanting visitors that the Cité du Chocolat decided in 2023 to go further, moving towards more sustainable tourism where the passion for cocoa is shared more effectively. In harmony with the company's values of environmental preservation and social responsibility, the Cité du Chocolat has embarked on a journey towards a future where sensory pleasure and environmental awareness converge.
A sustainable and committed approach
It is precisely with this aim of sustainably delighting customers that the Cité du Chocolat decided in 2023 to go further, moving towards more sustainable tourism where the passion for cocoa is shared more effectively. In harmony with the company's values of environmental preservation and social responsibility, the Cité du Chocolat has embarked on a journey towards a future where sensory pleasure and environmental awareness converge.
The Cité du Chocolat is a place where genuine cocoa and chocolate experiences are created. The goal is to create a unique space where you can look, live, smell, taste, share, be amazed, and smile… an experiential place, teeming with encounters that is constantly reinventing itself.
A unique place in France, in the heart of the Drôme region
For 100 years, Valrhona has been the chocolate partner of chefs, offering a diverse range of chocolates, constantly pushing the boundaries of innovation, and providing consulting services to professionals through its École du Grand Chocolat, a range of services and advice dedicated to professionals. This unique expertise and constant pursuit of excellence have shaped a true benchmark in the world of chocolate.
It is with this goal of transmission and sharing that the Maison Valrhona created the Cité du Chocolat in 2013. Ideally located in Tain-l’Hermitage, between Lyon and Avignon, the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona is much more than a museum: it is a sensory and immersive journey into the world of chocolate, driven by the expertise of a century-old, exceptional chocolatier.
With over one million visitors since 2013, the Cité du Chocolat Valrhona is the largest chocolate discovery center in France.
120,000 visitors come each year to enjoy this interactive and sensory journey to discover responsible chocolate in all its forms.