Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Vaison-la-Romaine
POP 6313
Tucked between seven hills, Vaison-la-Romaine has long been a traditional exchange
centre: to wit, its thriving Tuesday market. The village's rich Roman legacy is obvious -
20th-century buildings rise alongside France's largest archaeological site. A Roman
bridge crosses the River Ouvèze, dividing the contemporary town's pedestrianised centre
and the walled, cobbled-street hilltop Cité Médiévale - one of Provence's most magical
ancient villages - where the counts of Toulouse built their 12th-century castle. Vaison is a
good base for jaunts into the Dentelles or Mont Ventoux, but tourists throng here in sum-
mer: reserve ahead.
Sights & Activities
Gallo-Roman Ruins
(adult/child €8/3.50; closed Jan-early Feb)
The ruined remains of Vasio Vocontiorum,
the Roman city that flourished here between the 6th and 2nd centuries BC, fill two central
Vaison sites. Two neighbourhoods of this once-opulent city, Puymin and La Villasse, lie
on either side of the tourist office and l'avénue du Général-de-Gaulle. Admission includes
a four-language
audioguide
covering the Roman ruins, museum, Cathédrale Notre-Dame
and medieval city.
In
Puymin
, see aristocrats' houses, mosaics, the workers' quarter, temple and the still-
functioning 6000-seat
Théâtre Antique
(c 20AD). To make sense of the remains (and
gather your audioguide), head for the
archaeological museum
, which revives Vaison's
Roman past with incredible swag - superb mosaics, carved masks, and statues that include
a 3rd-century silver bust and marble renderings of Hadrian and wife Sabina.
The Romans shopped at the colonnaded boutiques and bathed at
La Villasse
, where
you'll find
Maison au Dauphin
, which has splendid marble-lined fish ponds.
Admission includes entry to the soothing 12th-century Romanesque cloister at
Cathéd-
rale Notre-Dame de Nazareth
(cloister €1.50; 10am-12.30pm & 2-6pm Mar-Dec)
, a
five-minute walk west of La Villasse and a refuge from summer's heat.
ROMAN SITES
Cité Médiévale
Cross the
Pont Romain
(Roman bridge) in the footsteps of frightened medieval peasants,
who clambered to the walled city during valley conflicts. Steep cobblestone alleyways
HISTORIC QUARTER