The Pendentif

The Pendentif, a Renaissance jewel of Valence

A true monument of Valence, the Pendentif has inscribed the Renaissance in the city's heritage for more than five centuries. Designed as a small antique-style triumphal arch, it astonishes by its elegance in the heart of the cathedral quarter. The Valence audio-guided tour stops here to reveal a unique architectural curiosity.

A funerary monument from 1548

Built in 1548, the Pendentif is a Renaissance funerary monument, raised in memory of a canon of the cathedral. It originally stood at the centre of the cloister located north of the building. Its triumphal-arch shape, inspired by Roman Antiquity, makes it a rare and refined work, a witness to the scholarly taste of the Renaissance.

What to see

The Pendentif appeals through the finesse of its sculptures and the balance of its proportions, inherited from ancient art. Set a stone's throw from the cathedral, it forms with it a remarkable heritage ensemble. It is a stop for lovers of architecture, to be savoured during a walk in the cathedral quarter.

Practical information

The Pendentif lies near Saint-Apollinaire cathedral, in the centre of Valence, reachable on foot. It is an open-air monument, freely visible from the public space, with no ticket office. It is mainly admired from the outside, during a stroll in the cathedral quarter.

What is the Pendentif of Valence?

It is a Renaissance funerary monument from 1548, shaped like an antique triumphal arch, raised in memory of a canon near the cathedral.

Why does the Pendentif have the shape of a triumphal arch?

Its shape is inspired by the triumphal arches of Roman Antiquity, a reflection of the Renaissance taste for ancient models.