Discover the history of the town

Beautiful Vienne

Intimately connected with the River Rhône and the hills that were its original site, Vienne is one of the oldest towns in the region. By climbing up to the Pipet, where a panoramic viewpoint was constructed early in our era, you can admire the breathtaking view of the city, the full majesty of the Rhône, the hillsides covered in prestigious vineyards (Côte-Rôtie, Condrieu, Sotanum, etc.) and, in the distance, to the south, in the midst of a Nature Reserve: the Pilat massif.

Signs of human habitation dating as far back as the fifth century before our era were found in recent archaeological digs. Around the third century B.C., Vienne belonged to the Allobroge Gauls and it later became their capital. But it was under the Roman Empire that it discovered wealth and glory.

Vienne has a rich archaeological heritage dating from that period-one of the richest in France. It later belonged to the Holy German Empire, and did not fall under the domination of the Kings of France until the mid-15th century, which coincided with the gradual waning of its importance in the face of the rise of Lyon and Grenoble. The first Christian communities left behind many martyrs, as well as a number of religious buildings, such as the churches of St Pierre and St André le bas, as well as the  Primatial Cathedral of St Maurice, a jewel of Roman and Gothic art from the Dauphiné (open daily for visitors to explore). The 18th and 19th centuries saw the birth and expansion of industry (metals and textiles), which survived until the mid-20th century.

The wealth and diversity of its history have placed Vienne amongst the ranks of artistic and historical heritage towns. It is pleasant to wander around the historic town centre, where vestiges of the past combine with vibrant commercial activity and intense cultural activity, represented by its international jazz festival (in the first half of July). All year round, the exhibition rooms of the Roman cloister at Saint André le bas host displays of fine arts, modern art, photography, archaeology, etc.  Between them, Lyon and Vienne have the richest Gallo-Roman archaeological centre in France. In Vienne, this wealth of material is distributed along both banks of the Rhône: the ancient city centre and the site of Saint-Romain-en-Gal - Vienne.