Municipalities of the Pays Viennois

 

Over 2000 years ago, 'our ancestors the Gauls' or rather the Romans-more accurately, the Gallo-Romans-gave the name 'Hortis' (or 'Ortis') to this south-eastern sector of Vienne. ('Ortis' means 'kitchen garden'.) There was a very important reason for this: water.

Today's 'Jardinois' are living in the garden of the Vienne Romans! The many remains of aqueducts in the Mourrant and Dartamas areas bear witness to this. The crops here were cereals and vines which covered the hills and plains.

Despite the decline of the Roman Empire, Vienne continued acting as a 'granary' in the Middle Ages, and so the castle of Mons Léonis (Montléans) was quite naturally built in a quarter known as 'garzino' (garden). Today only a tower and a few ramparts remain as evidence of this 'glorious' past (Louis XIII stopped there in 1629).

In the 21st century, Jardin still enjoys verdant surroundings thanks to its many springs. Crop farming and livestock farming still take place there, and in spite of the built-up areas that now exist, there are still little footpaths where nature lovers can find magnificent surprises to see (hills, woods, flowers), to smell (hay, mushrooms, chestnuts), and to hear (birdsong, the sounds of farm animals and wild animals, etc.).

Jardin has truly preserved its Gallo-Roman heritage.