Valence punches considerably above its weight gastronomically. It is the home of Anne-Sophie Pic, one of a handful of women ever to hold three Michelin stars, and her restaurant on the Avenue Victor Hugo is the most celebrated address in the city. Budget travellers can console themselves with the fact that Valence sits at the northern edge of Provence, where the olive oil, herbs, and vegetables of southern French cooking start to appear in the markets and on menus.