Inhabited since the Bronze Age, Vaison-la-Romaine is a historic town in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region of France. It is unique in that the ancient, medieval and modern parts of the town lie alongside one another while the Ouvèze divides Vaison-la-Romaine into the “upper” and “lower” towns.
Things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine
Artefacts and architectural ruins dating back to Gallo-Roman times are preserved within the Sites Antiques de Vaison-La-Romaine. Wander between the remains of ancient merchant houses and admire the beautiful mosaics before stepping inside the well-preserved amphitheatre. A Roman-built bridge links to Vaison-La-Romaine’s medieval town, which is watched over by the 12th-century Château Comtal.
Vaison-la-Romaine’s most important church is the Cathedrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth de Vaison, which dates back to the 12th century. Designed in a Romanesque style, it is topped by a crenellated bell tower and features a four-galleried cloister on its northern side. The interior boasts a beautifully carved episcopal tomb and a niche flanked by antique columns.
On the western edge of Vaison-la-Romaine is the Le Jardin des Neuf Damoiselles, a unique garden inspired by poetry, philosophy and alchemy. Dotting the site are 81 granite blocks that were sculpted by Serge Boyer to represent the forces that nurture vegetation. Nearby is Parc Theos, where you’ll find a riverside playground, a skate park and a network of walking trails.
Getting around Vaison-la-Romaine
Vaison-la-Romaine is around 1.5 hours’ drive from Marseille and Marseille Provence Airport, which has flights to destinations across Europe and North Africa. Regular buses connect to Vaison-la-Romaine and the town centre is compact enough to explore on foot. Renting a car is the most convenient way of getting around the area.