Vaison-la-Romaine visibly carries its history into the present: the Haute-Ville, also known as the Cité Médiévale, is an architecturally significant district on a rocky spur. Those who choose Vaison-la-Romaine as a travel destination may wish to rent a holiday apartment here.
Culture
The medieval Haute-Ville is crowned by the castle of the Counts of Toulouse and preserves high city walls, a fortified gate and the Beffroi tower. The Gallo-Roman bridge has been classified as a historic monument since 1840 and connects the modern lower town with the medieval city. It was built as a Roman bridge in the 1st century AD. Above a narrowed section of the Ouvèze, it has a single arch with a span of 17 metres, is 9 metres wide and consists of five semicircular arches.
The ancient city is also present in several locations. The ancient theatre has been protected as a historic monument since 1862 and is one of the few public buildings of the ancient city still visible today. The archaeological sites of Puymin and La Villasse reveal Roman luxury residences, residential districts, craft shops and several public buildings. The Romanesque cathedral of Notre-Dame-de-Nazareth dates from the 11th and 12th centuries and has a cloister. The Saint-Quenin Chapel is a Romanesque building from the second half of the 12th century.
The Musée archéologique Théo Desplans displays a 3D reconstruction of the Maison au Dauphin, illustrating the rooms of a Roman domus. The museum also presents everyday objects and ancient statues, thereby illustrating 2,000 years of an exceptional way of life. It offers children activities such as workshops on Roman architecture using Lego, mosaic and frieze design, ancient games and an activity booklet. The activity booklet is handed out free of charge to children aged 7 to 12 who visit the ancient sites with their families. A multilingual audio guide enables independent visits to the most important historical sites of Vaison-la-Romaine.
The Jardin des 9 Damoiselles contains 81 placed stones; nine stones at the centre bear the names of the nine European Capitals of Culture of the year 2000. For Sunday, 29 March 2026, the third edition of the Journée mistralienne was announced in Vaison-la-Romaine, an event dedicated to the Provençal language and culture.
Nature and Activities
The Ouvèze, which flows through Vaison-la-Romaine, and the Toulourenc upstream of the Roman bridge are classified as first-category fishing waters. The Vaison-la-Romaine tourist office provides a cycling guide with 61 routes ranging from 18 to 116 kilometres.
The “La Forêt communale” hike starts in Vaison-la-Romaine, passes through the municipal forest and offers views of the Haute-Ville, Mont Ventoux and the Drôme provençale; it is a moderately difficult circular route covering 11.4 kilometres. Two riding centres in Vaison-la-Romaine are open year-round and offer children, teenagers and adults trail rides and riding lessons. The Espace nature Théos includes a fitness trail, an orienteering course, a children’s park with a water point and picnic area, and a multisport field.
Markets
The Provençal market in Vaison-la-Romaine takes place every Tuesday morning from 7:30 a.m. in the town’s main squares and streets. It offers fruit and vegetables, fresh local produce, handicrafts, clothing, second-hand goods, crockery and gifts; its long-standing tradition dates back to 1483. Vaison-la-Romaine also has a small market of local and organic producers offering seasonal fresh fruit, vegetables and dairy products. A charter guarantees the quality and origin of the products.
Other local pages: Beaumont-Du-Ventoux, Saint-Léger-Du-Ventoux, Vaugines, Puget, Jonquières, Caumont-Sur-Durance, Cabrières-D'avignon, Cucuron
