Vienne

This part of France became a Roman colony when Julius Caesar brought his army here in 47 BC. Though it had long been known that the Romans were here, excavations began in earnest at the beginning of the twentieth century. Now the ruins of a Roman forum, theater, odion and arches have been unearthed. One of the best preserved Roman temples is here as well. Vienne also figured prominently in church history. Now the church of St. Maurice is no longer a cathedral; the bishop now has his chair in Lyon. Things are now slowing down in Vienne. If it costs half as much to live in Lyon as Paris, it costs half as much to live in Vienne as Lyon. The picturesque beauty of this small city on the southern edge of the Beaujolais area is charming.Read more