Vaison has much to give the tourist – in addition to all the Roman sites and the medieval village, it has it all, Roman ruins, a historic & gorgeous medieval town center, a palace on a rock, arts festivals, incredible vineyards, and stunning countryside for hiking and biking. Here are the best things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine, hope you like them!
The town is neatly sliced into two by the Ouveze River, with the medieval town on one side snaking up the hill to the castle, and the Roman-Gallo and today’s contemporary town
Scroll down to explore Vaison-la-romaine:
Address to Reach the Town: 84110 Vaison-la-Romaine, France
Puymin Roman Site
Ranked first as “the most elegant detours in France”. In the city of Vaison-la-Romaine, the Puymin hill seizes you into a real-life
Glimpse the dining room, the kitchens, special baths, and the huge garden with a patio and a pool. You can also view the 3000 m2 home built on 3 levels, the “Maison à la Tonnelle”. In the center of the Puymin region, you will also find the Théo Desplans Archaeological Museum. Following a considerable agreement of conservation work and inventorying, it today possesses a huge collection with more than 2000 everyday articles and an artifact statue.
It illustrates the historical ways of life from prehistoric times to the Gallo-Roman era. The tickets traded at the entrance to the Puymin site also allow access to the La Villasse site. Audio guides in French, English, German and Dutch are available for touring the sites.
Location: Site Antique de Puymin, 14 Rue Burrus, 84110 Vaison-la-Romaine, France
Château Comtal
Dominating the entire town, straddled on a giant rock, Château Comtal suggests unrivaled impressions of the surrounding area. It is a medieval castle within the Cité of Carcassonne, the largest city in Europe with its city walls still unbroken. It was built in 1185 to proclaim the Count of Toulouse’s reign and was later augmented in the 13th century when a dungeon was expanded. Although the outer curtain wall of the cité is French, and the entire site has been substantially renovated, the Château Comtal has a powerful assertion to be called a “Cathar Castle”.
The castle was refurbished in 1853 by the architect Eugène Viollet-le-Duc. It was added to the UNESCO list of World Heritage Sites in 1997. To reach there are limited signs so just keep walking uphill to expose it, through the winding medieval lanes. It can be steep in areas but there is a handrail to help on some of the assorted routes up. You can tour the medieval site and the Château Comtal where there is an entry fee. It is one of the best things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine
Website: www.remparts-carcassonne.fr
Location: 11000 Carcassonne, France
The river Ouvèze
Take a stroll on the banks of river Ouvèze and feel the cool breeze along with admiring the incredible medieval architecture developed on the river banks. In September 1992, following many days of torrential rainfall, the banks of the Ouvèze river flooded, engulfing Vaison-la-Romaine in water.
Traverse the Roman bridge built in the first century, which connects the Medieval and Roman parts of the town, and visit the shrine commemorating the 38 dead. You can also see the plaque that reports the tremendous level the water reached on that disastrous day when the river was above head height on the bridge, which itself is many meters above recent day river levels. Presently, the river is a luminary attraction in a more positive way.
It is one of the best things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine. Take a stroll along its banks, have a picnic on the tables underneath the Roman bridge and whip your feet in the much calmer river of today.
Belfry and Chapelle St Constance
The Medieval town seizes lots of glories. You infiltrate through a 14th-century augmented entrance with its belfry tower, which used to have a portcullis and drawbridge. As you stroll, you’ll come through 16th-century outlets, several fine villas, fountains, and little aisles and stairways.
The area covers three acres so there is plenty to explore! The significantly central square Place d’Orme is where you’ll discover the Chapelle St Constance and almost beyond it is the church that was erected in the 15th century. It is presently being renovated and once disclosed again to the public, will show off its Jesuit-style semblance, Medieval embellishments, and tower. There are also fantastic views to be enjoyed here. You have to visit this place as it is the best thing to do in Vaison-la-Romaine.
Cathedral Notre Dame de Nazareth
The amicable 12th-century Romanesque hermitage at Cathédrale Notre-Dame de Nazareth is a five-minute stroll west of La Villasse and is an incredible area to find a haven from the summer heat. The Cathedral Notre Dame de Nazareth lies just on the other side of the river from the Medieval town. The church was first created in the 11th century and is an example of Romanesque architecture.
There is a wonderful monastery fastened which has an elegant garden and an assortment of arches and columns with some excellent stone carvings. The City chapel St Quentin a few lanes further into the town is another Romanesque structure, built-in the12th century. It is categorized as a Historical Monument thanks to its murals, decorative friezes, and Corinthian columns. You should enjoy this place as it is one of the best things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine.
Tuesday Food Market – Vaison-la-Romaine
Roam in the huge Provencal market on Tuesday mornings with the colors and aromas. It hosts up to 450 exhibitors in the summer period and is distributed across the whole town
It goes on from 8 am to 1
These are the most attractive things to do in Vaison-la-Romaine. Hope you like it!
