Presentation of the Diploma of Love

Lena Balsan, Mayor,
Alain Zammit, assistant mayor in charge of the human resources and civil registrations,
With the presence of Gerard Vialet, jeweller.

Since the middle of May, all the couple who get married in valence get on the way out of the town hall, the “diploma of love” personalize with their manes, the date of the wedding, and the signature of the mayor. A nice lithograph made from the work of Raymond Peynet.
This initiative comes from the Jeweller Gerard Vialet who has the passion of Peynet’s work and takes one’s inspiration from him to create jewels. All ready, in Biot and Antibes (Alpes Maritime), a diploma is offered to the newly-weds. This present has got a strong and symbolic meaning. Indeed, Peynet imagined the most famous lovers of the world in Valence 60 years ago.
In 1942, being asked to deliver a confidential document to a correspondent located in our town, right opposite to the music kiosk, Peynet imagined a young violinist with long hair playing all by himself in the kiosk and a young girl was listening to him with great admiration.
In 2002, it’s with an exhibition that the museum of fine art and archaeology of Valence paid homage to the artist, dead in 1999.
Number of wedding celebrated in Valence:
-in 2005: 235
-in 2004: 261
-in 2003: 267
-in 2002: 257

- 80% to 90% of the people prefer get married in June and July.
- The favourite day is the Saturday afternoon.
- Believe or not, not many people get married the day of lovers, 14th of February.

Town of Valence, communication head-office. June 16th 2006..