Vaison-la-Romaine

Vaison-la-Romaine is a beautifully preserved historic town with magnificent surroundings which hasn’t gone unnoticed in France. This town situated in the north of Provence is classified on the list of 'L'un des Plus Beaux Détours de France (one of the 100 most beautiful detours of France) this mainly due to its heritage. The remains of the old Vasio Vocontiorum, the capital of the people Voconces, bears witness to a glorious past.

Vaison-la-Romaine, surrounded by seven hills (like Rome), crosses the waters of the Ouvèze, a tributary of the Rhône, 85 km long and today not navigable because of the low water. This was different in Roman times as the markings report that boatmen sailed over the river. Ouvèze is capable of causing horrific scenes: the catastrophic flooding of September 22nd 1992 helps the inhabitants of Vaison-la-Romaine remember the danger of mother nature when hundreds of people died and is still fresh in their memories.

The Gallo-Roman bridge classified as historical monument since 1840, links the modern downtown and the medieval city of Vaison-la-Romaine and is considered to be one of the most important monuments of Vaison-la-Romaine. The bridge was built in the first century AD and is anchored in the rock to a narrowing of the Ouvèze. The single arch, with a diameter of 17 meters and a width of 9 meters, consists of five arches.
La Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth (Cathedral of Our Lady of Nazareth), the mother church of the Diocese of Vaison was the center of the medieval city and is now completely gone. The cathedral was built in the 11th century and is a fine example of Romanesque art of Provence. One of the features of the cathedral is the presence of relics from Antiquity which were reused during construction. The monastery is connected with the cathedral and has four galleries enclosing the garden. The galleries are made of small groups of three small arcs supporting the great arches.

The upper town of Vaison-la-Romaine is situated at the foot of the castle, built in 1195 by Raymond VI, Count of Toulouse. You can enter this part of the town through a fortified gate from the 14th century dominated by the Belfry Tower (Tour Belfort). At the beginning of the 12th century, Vaison-la-Romaine was a part of the Marquis of Provence, servant of the Count of Toulouse. The castle consists of three main buildings flanked by a square tower around a courtyard. The rebuilding of the castle like the gatehouse and the watch tower dates from the 15^th century and affirm the military function of the castle with a supervisory position more than it was the stay of a lord. The castle was no longer used after 1791 when it was sold to the community of Vaison-la-Romaine.

Vaison-la-Romaine like many other towns in Provence is also rich in culture: many festivals are organised and animate the city throughout the year with a succession of shows with a high artistic level. The amphi theater opens its doors every summer for the festival ‘Vaison Danses’. But Vaison-la-Romaine is known best for its wines. Located in the heart of the Appellation Côtes-du-Rhône, vineyards are located on the hills or plains around Vaison-la-Romaine and bring excellent wines from grapes grown in limestone soil enjoying a mild Mediterranean climate.