The city has an exceptionally rich ancient and medieval architectural heritage. It reveals itself a little higher, where it all began, from this rocky hill dominated by the castle of the Counts of Toulouse. At our feet, one of the richest cities of the Narbonnaise in Roman times. In the 3rd century BC, Vasio had become the capital of the Voconces, a people of Celtic origin who did not hesitate to descend to the right bank. The city was then prosperous. Between 69 and 59 BC and unlike the colonies, Rome recognized it as an ally and offered it the status of a federated city. With the Pax Romana, the valley will take off while the oppidum, the perched village, will be gradually abandoned. The first farms appeared between 50 and 30 B.C. and were transformed over time into a city, with the creation of roads and the construction of large public monuments in the second half of the 1st century A.D.: theatre, aqueduct, thermal baths, bridges. It was in the 2nd century that Vaison shone in all its glory: its residential districts boasted very large residences covering 2,000 to 5,000 m², the largest known in Gaul. Most of the remains visible today date back to this period. After the fall of the Roman Empire, the commune became an important religious centre with a bishopric that was the site of two councils, in 442 and 529. Following all the invasions suffered as a result of the 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 that had become papal property. In the 17th century, a few farmers resettled on the plain, but it was not until the 19th century that urban development made itself felt and once again forced the town to leave its belvedere.

A pure jewel of Roman Provence, Vaison, labelled Plus Beaux Détours de France, has just been awarded the third flower in the competition for towns and villages in bloom (more than just a flower, this flower rewards a commitment to sustainable development and respect for biodiversity). Every three years, the city hosts the Choralies: with international stars from around the world and choir conductors meet there to "make the earth sing" for eight days.