Vienne was one of the most important towns of Roman Gaul until their rule ended in AD275. It has one of the finest and largest Roman theatres ever built seating 13,000 people. Standing on Mount Pipet, the theatre is still used today for open-air concerts and an annual Jazz Festival.
Vienne's medieval heritage is also prominent with many parts of the old quarter having fine examples of facades and remains from the 16th and 17th Centuries. The Cathedral of Saint-Maurice offers visitors a mixture of Roman/Gothic sculptures. The abbey of Saint-André-le-Bas is also well worth a visit.
Vienne once stood on both sides of the river Rhône and was completely surrounded by a wall stretching an amazing seven kilometers. As the town declined, the wall reduced its size to a mere two kilometers.
Today Vienne is a tourist’s paradise, particularly for those interested in history. It has a Gallo-Roman atmosphere and is the centre for marketing of the local produce of the Rhône departement.
For more tourist information and history, see Premier Pages (Wine Regions, Places of Interest)