Vaison la
Romaine
An ancient and historical town, Vaison boasts something for everyone.
Situated at the foot of Mont Ventoux and about 40 minutes north of Avignon,
the town has been of strategic importance since Celtic times when a fortress
was built on the hill to the west of the river. The town really grew in
prominence with the Roman conquest and an impressive town was built on
the east bank. Many of the roman ruins have been excavated and can be
visited today in the centre of Vaison. In the 12th century, a castle was
built on the site of the Celtic fortress and the "haute ville"
grew up around the castle. You can still wander the cobbled streets and
alleyways and visit the ruined castle and take in the fantastic views
of Mont Ventoux, the lavender fields and vineyards so typical of this
area. The River Ouveze runs through the town and is crossed by the gallo-roman
bridge separating the modern from the ancient parts of the town. The roman
past of Vaison is celebrated by open-air performances at the town's amphitheatre.
Visit the Tuesday morning market which spills out of the main square into
the surrounding streets for local specialities.
Eating Out - There are many cafes, brasseries and restaurants offering a wide variety of cuisine. Pavement cafes abound in the town's main square.
