Vaison-la-Romaine Provence-Beyond (Beyond the French Riviera) ® Vaucluse (84110) Population: 5660 Altitude: 204 m Nearby: [ Avignon 47 km | Carpentras 27 | Gigondas 13 | Malaucène 10 | Montélimar 62 | Vacqueyras 17 ] [ Dentelles de Montmirail | Mont Ventoux ] Photos: Bigger view of the Roman bridge (22 k) Wider view of the Haute-Ville and the bridge (17 k) Below: [ History | Dates | Wine | Hiking | Lodging ] This very ancient town sits in a low basin along the Ouvèze river, beneath the watchful chateau on top of the Haute Ville hill on the south side of the river. The town, with its vast collection of ancient ruins, is picturesque and dynamic. During the summer season, Vaison is alive with music festivals, dance festivals and theater. The two parts of Vaison-la-Romaine are joined by a unique single-arched Roman bridge over the river, still in use after some 2000 years. The Haute Ville (upper town), on the high rock south of the river, has narrow little medieval streets and small squares, in addition to the chateau. North of the river, the main part of town has shaded squares lined with terrace restaurants, shops, parking, and the Roman ruins. The best-known attractions here are the Roman ruins. The Puymin Quarter, north of the town center, contains the House of the Messii, Pompey's Portico and the 6000-seat Roman Theater. The La Villasse Quarter, by the center of town, has excavated houses, streets and baths. Entry: 37 F (12 F 10-18 yrs) for both Roman sites and the cathedral, but you can see a lot of it from the exterior without paying. Name First record, around 40 BC: Vasio Vocontiorum History Prehistoric: Many traces of ancient civilization found here are from the chalcolithic period, 2500-2000 BC. Pre-Roman: During the Iron Age, a major Celtic-Ligurian Vocontii oppidum was located on the Haute Ville hill on the south bank of the Ouvèze river.The Vocontii, along with the rest of the southern Gauls, were defeated in the Roman campaigns of 125-118 BC and brought into Transalpine province as a federated city, leaving it a large amount of autonomy.. Roman:During the 60's BC, the Vocontii were formally allied to Rome. Tribal leaders wre granted Roman citizenship, and warriors were became citizens by commanding cavalry units in the Roman army. The Romanization took place under Pompey, Caesar and finally Augustus, by which time Vaison (Vasio Vocontiorum) was the political capital, with the center at the site of the current town. [See also Roman Empire Chronology.] Medieval: In the 12th century, the Counts of Toulouse, who built a chateau on the hill, and the bishops began a conflict that lasted for 100 years. From the 13th century, the local population for safety from the north side of the river to the base of the chateau on the rock. The move increased during the 14th century, because of the Hundred Years war and the marauding Routiers. Vaison was an important diocese in the Comtat, and was controlled by Saint-Siège from 1274 to 1791. During the 17th and 18th centuries, some of the population began moving back to the plains north of the river, and by the middle of the 19th century, a new town was in place on the site of the ancient Gallo-Roman town. Dates, Numbers Daily Market: during the growing season Weekly Marché: Tue, Thur, Sat mornings - Place Francois Cevert Foire: Tue closest to 15 Feb (St-Quenin) Foire: Tue closest to 30 Nov (St-André) Fête votive: 15 Aug Fête - childrens' parade: Sun-Mon Pentecost Office de Tourisme - Tel: (33) 490 36 02 11; Fax: (33) 490 28 76 04 Wine Vaison-la-Romaine is in the region of the Rhône Valley Côtes de Rhône wines, with some good vineyards in the commune. Cycling Camping Hiking Maps: IGN "bleue" (1:25,000) 3040 ET "Carpentras" Didier Richard (1:50,000) #27 "Ventoux" The GR4 (Grande Randonnée) passes through the forested hills south of Vaison, between Roaix and Malaucène. There are several other trails that branch off from the GR4, including many loop-hikes, extending south to Gigondas and Beaumes-de-Venise. East of Vaison, there is some hiking in the wooded hills south of St Romain-en-Veinnois and Faucon. Lodging Listing available