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A history spanning millennia
Vienne’s Roman history is a huge draw for tourists, but before being occupied by the Romans, the city was the Gallic capital of The Allobroges, and following Roman occupancy the city was an important early seat of the legendary bishop Crescens. This long and fascinating history will appear all around you when you visit Vienne. From the Roman remains to the Gothic cathedral and Romanesque church of St André en Bas, you may wish you had more than a day to explore Vienne’s myriad historical attractions!
Explore on two wheels or two feet
Away from the historic attractions and museums of the city centre, Vienne is surrounded by some beautiful natural parks and gardens. Barlet Island (Ile Barlet) is a charming public park on the banks of one of the Rhône’s lônes or secondary arms of the river. Here you can rent bikes and follow the trails along with walkers and past locals fishing in the river. If you fancy taking your boke further than a lap of the park, you can follow the ViaRhôna route, a dedicated cycle path that follows the river all the way from Lake Geneva to the Mediterranean, although we don’t recommend you cycle the whole way!
Sample the local fare at the Grand Marché
Every Saturday morning, Vienne city centre holds France’s second-largest market. More than 400 stalls line the city’s streets selling local food, drink, clothing and craft. The market spans more than 5 kilometres and wandering through, sampling delicious local tastes here and there is a perfect way to spend the morning of your cruise.
Jazz à Vienne
Every July, Vienne celebrates the wonderful world of Jazz. Since its creation in 1981, more than 200,000 jazz-lovers head to the city each year to experience the magic of this varied and rich musical genre. With a variety of more than 400 jazz concerts and events from over 1,000 artists, exhibitions and fusion art encounters, the festival and the city itself come to life for this electric and opulent event. Make sure to visit Vienne in July to see the magic for yourself.
