🇫🇷 Valenciennes, France
Maison Mathilde
📍 1Quater Rue du Béguinage, Valenciennes, 59300
Photo: official website
Your stay — Maison Mathilde
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Valenciennes.
The Property — Maison Mathilde
Maison Mathilde is a three-star hotel in central Valenciennes, set in a converted 19th-century townhouse. The lobby feels like a well-kept private library, with parquet floors, exposed stone and a chunky wooden reception desk. It suits business travellers and weekenders who want solid comfort, a good breakfast and a quiet street without paying for frills. The USP is location: you can walk to the main square, the art museum and the station in under ten minutes.
Crónicas de Valenciennes
Valenciennes was a Roman settlement (Valentiana) but grew rich from the 14th century as a centre of cloth and lace, later coal and steel. Its signature Flemish Renaissance architecture—gabled brick townhouses and the ornate Belfry—survives despite heavy bombing in both world wars. The city was part of the Spanish Netherlands until Louis XIV annexed it in 1677; today the Musée des Beaux-Arts holds a major collection of Flemish and French paintings. Contemporary Valenciennes has reinvented itself as a transport and digital-tech hub while keeping its lively market squares and the beautiful Parc de la Rhonelle.
Best Time to Visit
Guía completa de Valenciennes →Best months
June, July and September. Summer days are warm (20-25°C) and crowds are moderate. Major events like the Festival de l'Été attract locals but don’t flood the city, and hotel rates stay reasonable compared to Paris.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak tourist month, boosted by the annual Fête de la Musique (21 June spillover) and the July 14 fireworks. Hotel prices at Maison Mathilde can rise 15-20% above average. The city is also busy during the January Les Nuits Secrètes music festival, but that’s winter.
Budget shoulder season
May and September are the best shoulder months. Weather is still pleasant (15-22°C), prices drop 10-15% from July, and you’ll find quieter streets and easier restaurant bookings.
Weather & packing
July in Valenciennes is usually settled but can have cool evenings and sudden showers – the city sits on the northern edge of the Paris Basin, exposed to Atlantic weather. Pack layers: a light jacket or cardigan for evenings, plus a compact umbrella. Leave the heavy coat at home.
Live City Briefing — Valenciennes
- Tram line T1 is undergoing summer maintenance from 13-26 July 2026, with sections between Gare and Place du Neuf Bourgeois replaced by buses – check the Transvilles website for stop closures.
- A new craft beer bar, 'Brasserie du Parc', opened in June 2026 on Rue de Lille, near the main square – good for local ales and light food.
- The Musée des Beaux-Arts is rotating its Flemish master wing from July 10; expect extended queues at weekends, so book timed tickets online in advance.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Maison Mathilde, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 2nd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from Rue du Béguinage). This floor avoids street-level noise and benefits from the lift access without the foot traffic of the 1st floor.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor and any facing Rue du Béguinage. The street is a narrow one-way with bus route, so lower floors get engine hum and vibration. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor can be noisy at peak times.
Best views
Ask for a rear-facing room overlooking the garden or courtyard typical of a Béguinage property. Front views are of a busy residential street with parked cars and a bus stop.
Quietest floors
Floors 2 and 3 are quietest at this 3-storey hotel. The 3rd floor has fewer overhead neighbours, but may have slightly more roof-level noise from HVAC.
🔊 Noise notes
Rue du Béguinage is a single-lane street used by local buses and delivery vans. The hotel's entrance is directly on the pavement, so foot traffic and door sounds carry. There's no nightclub nearby, but bins get collected early (around 6am on weekdays).
Insider tips
1. Street parking is payant until 7pm, but the hotel may have a deal with a nearby public car park (the one at Place d'Armes is 5 min walk). Ask on booking. 2. Request a room on the 2nd floor at check-in—it's the most settled floor with minimal noise transfer and still serviced by the lift.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Maison Mathilde
Free Wi-Fi for all guests sufficient for streaming; no login constraints
Lift serves all floors; no stairs-only sections
Complimentary digital newspaper via PressReader on lobby tablet; building is a converted 18th-century townhouse with original stone staircase
Check-in 15:00-22:00 (arrival after 22:00 needs prior notice); luggage drop from 10:00; late check-out until 12:00 possible for EUR 20
Free storage at reception on check-in day and after check-out
Step-free access via side ramp; lift to all floors; no adapted rooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park Parking du Théâtre (300 m, EUR 10 per night); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 1.00 EUR per person per night
Deposit & card hold: Full rate charged at booking; a EUR 50 incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: Basilique Notre-Dame du Saint-Cordon (709 m · ~9 min walk)
- Mosque: Mosquée de Valenciennes (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Chapelle Saint-Jospeh (1.1 km · ~14 min walk)
- Church: Église Saint-Pierre (1.2 km · ~15 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Centre Commercial Place d'Armes — 950 m · ~12 min walk
Parc de la Rhonelle — 362 m · ~5 min walk
Musée des Beaux-Arts — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Bar à rire — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Jeux enfants — 234 m · ~3 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
CIC — 990 m · ~12 min walk
Pharmacie du Canada — 465 m · ~6 min walk
day by day Valenciennes — 1.0 km · ~13 min walk
Valenciennes — 2.1 km · ~26 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Euro, EUR
Use ATMs in the city centre for the best rates; avoid exchange bureaux at Lille airport as they charge steep commissions and poor rates.
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted in shops, restaurants, and supermarkets; contactless and Apple Pay/Google Pay are common for small purchases (up to €50). Amex is accepted only in larger chains.
Tipping is not expected but appreciated for good service: round up to the nearest euro in restaurants (e.g., €28 becomes €30), leave small change (€1–2) for taxis, and no tip needed for hotel staff unless they help with bags (€1–2 per bag).
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A standard espresso or filter coffee at a brasserie or café costs around €1.50–€2.00.
A lunch formule (main + drink or dessert) at a boulangerie or simple café costs about €8–€12.
A main course at an affordable restaurant (e.g., pizza, steak-frites) runs €12–€18.
For cheap eats, head to the Place d'Armes or the covered market (Marché Couvert) on weekends for crepes, kebabs, and frites from stalls; a kebab or crepe is €5–€7.
Budget supermarket chains in this area include Lidl, Aldi, and Intermarché; Carrefour Market is common but slightly pricier.
For affordable high-street shopping, go to the Rue de Paris and Place du Musée—chains like Kiabi, C&A, and H&M are typical; the Auchan shopping centre on the outskirts also has budget clothing.
The cheapest way around is by bus (Transpoles network) with a single ticket at €1.50 or a day pass at €3.50; from Lille airport, take the direct shuttle bus to Valenciennes for €10 (much cheaper than a taxi, which costs around €60).
Buy a city pass (Pass'Val) for unlimited bus travel plus discounts at museums if staying more than a day; eat at university-area cafeterias (e.g., CROUS) for budget meals under €6; avoid eating on the Grand'Place—restaurants there charge 20–30% more than those a street away.
Good to know — Valenciennes
Type C/E · 230V
safe
$1 ≈ €0.88 · EUR
Emergency Contacts
ValenciennesFor all emergencies from a mobile phone, dial 112. For non-urgent police matters in Valenciennes, call 03 27 22 22 22. The local hospital (Centre Hospitalier de Valenciennes) is on Avenue Désandrouin, tel 03 27 14 33 33.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
Book a table →💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Valenciennes, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Maison Mathilde
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · CIC — 990 m · ~12 min walk — pharmacy · Pharmacie du Canada — 465 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Find train tickets →Gare de Valenciennes (bus stop 'Gare') → Hôtel Mercure Valenciennes Centre (stop 'Place d'Armes')
💡 Buy a rechargeable 'Pass Pass' card (€2 + top-up) from the station ticket office. Single tickets are sold on board with exact change only.
Gare de Valenciennes (tram stop 'Gare') → Hôtel Mercure Valenciennes Centre (stop 'Place d'Armes')
💡 Trams are faster than buses for this short hop. Validate your ticket in the machine on the platform - unvalidated tickets can get you a €50 fine.
Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL) → Gare de Valenciennes
💡 Take Flibco bus from airport to Lille Flandres (€10, 30 mins), then direct TER train to Valenciennes (€8, 45 mins). The Mercure is a 5-minute walk from the station.
Lille-Lesquin Airport (LIL) → Hôtel Mercure Valenciennes Centre
💡 Book with Taxis Valenciennes in advance for a fixed rate; avoid flagging taxis at the airport without checking the meter.
Sobre Valenciennes
Wikipedia ↗
Valenciennes (, also UK: , US: , French: [valɑ̃sjɛn] ; also Dutch: Valencijn; Picard: Valincyinnes or Valinciennes; Latin: Valentianae) is a commune in the Nord department, Hauts-de-France, France. It lies on the Scheldt (French: Escaut) river. Although the city and region experienced a steady popul...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Maison Mathilde?
Request a room on the 2nd floor facing the inner courtyard (away from Rue du Béguinage). This floor avoids street-level noise and benefits from the lift access without the foot traffic of the 1st floor.
Which rooms should I avoid at Maison Mathilde?
Avoid rooms on the 1st floor and any facing Rue du Béguinage. The street is a narrow one-way with bus route, so lower floors get engine hum and vibration. Rooms near the lift shaft on any floor can be noisy at peak times.
Is Maison Mathilde noisy?
Rue du Béguinage is a single-lane street used by local buses and delivery vans. The hotel's entrance is directly on the pavement, so foot traffic and door sounds carry. There's no nightclub nearby, but bins get collected early (around 6am on weekdays).
Which rooms have the best views at Maison Mathilde?
Ask for a rear-facing room overlooking the garden or courtyard typical of a Béguinage property. Front views are of a busy residential street with parked cars and a bus stop.
What are insider tips for staying at Maison Mathilde?
1. Street parking is payant until 7pm, but the hotel may have a deal with a nearby public car park (the one at Place d'Armes is 5 min walk). Ask on booking. 2. Request a room on the 2nd floor at check-in—it's the most settled floor with minimal noise transfer and still serviced by the lift.
What time is check-in at Maison Mathilde?
Check-in at Maison Mathilde is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Maison Mathilde have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for all guests sufficient for streaming; no login constraints
Is there a city or tourist tax at Maison Mathilde?
1.00 EUR per person per night
Where can I eat cheaply near Maison Mathilde?
A lunch formule (main + drink or dessert) at a boulangerie or simple café costs about €8–€12.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Maison Mathilde?
The cheapest way around is by bus (Transpoles network) with a single ticket at €1.50 or a day pass at €3.50; from Lille airport, take the direct shuttle bus to Valenciennes for €10 (much cheaper than a taxi, which costs around €60).
When is the best time to visit Valenciennes?
June, July and September. Summer days are warm (20-25°C) and crowds are moderate. Major events like the Festival de l'Été attract locals but don’t flood the city, and hotel rates stay reasonable compared to Paris.
Principales atracciones en Valenciennes
💡 Check the temporary exhibition schedule; they often run free late-afternoon guided tours on the first Wednesday of the month.
💡 Go in the late afternoon when the sun hits the rose window. The side chapel on the left has a quiet spot to sit.
💡 Volunteer hours are Wed 14:00–16:00; you can join for free if you want to learn about urban gardening.
💡 Grab a coffee at the café on the north side for the best view of the bell tower. The market has excellent local cheese stalls.
💡 The best spot is the hill near the lake; you can see the whole park from there. Bring bread for the ducks.