Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
sprawling ruins demonstrates. About 6,000 people called Vaison la Romaine home 2,000
years ago. When the barbarians arrived, the Romans were forced out, and the townspeople
fled into the hills. The town has only recently reached the same population it had during
its Roman era.
Cost and Hours:
€8 Roman ruins combo-ticket includes both ruins and helpful au-
dioguide; daily April-May 9:30-18:00, June-Sept 9:30-18:30, Oct-March 10:00-12:00 &
14:00-17:00, Oct and March until 17:30.
Visiting the Ruins:
VaisonlaRomaine'sRomanruinsaresplitbyamodernroadinto
two sites: Puymin and La Villasse. Each is well-presented, thanks to the audioguide and
occasional English information panels, offering a good look at life during the Roman Em-
pire.TheRomantownextendedallthewaytotheriver,anditsforumstillliesunderPlace
Montfort. What you can see is only a small fraction of the Roman town's extent—most is
still buried under today's city.
Visit
Puymin
first.Nearesttheentryarethescantbutimpressiveruinsofasprawling
mansion.Findthefaintremainsofacolorfulfrescoedwall.Climbthehilltothegoodlittle
museum
(pick up your audioguide here; exhibits also explained in English loaner book-
let).Besuretoseethe
3-D film
thattakesyouinsidethehomeofawealthyVaisonresident
and explores daily life some 2,000 years ago. Behind the museum is a 6,000-seat theater
that's still well-used, with just enough seats for the whole town (of yesterday and today).
