Travel Guide Vaison-La-Romaine

The town boasts an exceptionally rich architectural heritage, both ancient and medieval. It's best revealed from the top, where it all began, from this rocky hill dominated by the castle of the Counts of Toulouse. At our feet is one of the richest cities in the Narbonnaise region in Roman times. By the 3rd century BC, Vasio had become the capital of the Voconces, a tribe of Celtic origin that did not hesitate to descend to the right bank. The city prospered. Between 69 and 59 BC, unlike the colonies, Rome recognized Vasio as an ally and granted it federated city status. With the Pax Romana, the valley flourished, while the oppidum, the hilltop village, was gradually abandoned. The first farms appeared between 50 and 30 B.C. and were gradually transformed into towns, with the creation of thoroughfares and the construction of major public monuments in the second half of the 1st century A.D.: theater, aqueduct, baths, bridges. It was in the 2nd century that Vaison really came into its own: its residential quarters boasted very large mansions covering 2,000 to 5,000 m², the largest known in Gaul. Most of the remains visible today date from this period. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the commune became an important religious center, with a bishopric that hosted two councils, in 442 and 529. After all the invasions suffered as a result of conflicts between successive bishops and the Counts of Toulouse, in the 13th century the population took refuge on the rock at the foot of the castle, which had become papal property. In the 17th century, a few farmers resettled on the plain, but it wasn't until the 19th century that urban development made itself felt, forcing the town once again to leave its belvedere.A pure jewel of Roman Provence, Vaison has just been awarded the third flower in the "towns and villages in bloom" competition (more than just flowers, this flower rewards a commitment to sustainable development and respect for biodiversity). Every three years, the town hosts the Choralies: international stars and choirmasters gather here to "make the earth sing" for eight days.