River Cruise Diary – Viviers, France

After the Avignon tour of the Papal palace, we returned to the boat to have lunch as we sailed further upstream. I will post a separate story about what can be seen between the ports of call but on this day, we covered 77 river kilometers and tied up in the ancient community of Viviers.

With less than 4000 residents, it is the smallest town we’ll visit on the cruise. Originally a Roman colony, it appears not to have had much reason to grow over the centuries.

Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

As in Aix, their plane trees also had crew cuts

and we were there too soon to see them leaf out.

The next morning, Monday 24 April, Dominique, our Grand Circle guide, walked us through town. We saw many narrow, ancient streets and alleys as we climbed to the bluff where some important old structures were located.

Unlike most reports in this diary, there isn’t much history or legend or significant people to spice up this post. I’ll leave you with images and captions and let your imagination do the rest as you think back across the centuries of colonization, development, conflict and survival.

Flood Markings, Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

Old European river towns often mark their buildings with flood

records. The Rhone moved a few feet up this building in 1955.

Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

The streets here are narrow…laid out at a time long before motorized transport. The old stone buildings are often attached to each other, but the residents make use of every available space for green growing things.

 

Springtime in Viviers, France (24 April2006)

In the background is the tower of the Cathedral of St. Vincent, a modest church with few of the trappings one finds in many Catholic cathedrals. One reference said it is the oldest cathedral in France that has been in continuous use. Another called it the smallest cathedral in France.

St. Vincent Cathedral Tapestries, Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

Since the mid-1400’s, the Gobelins Family has been making grand tapestries and since the time of Louis XIV, the business has catered to French monarchs. In 1858, St. Vincent’s acquired six Gobelin works that were produced a century earlier. In 2019, long after our visit, the French Ministry of Culture paid to restore and preserve the tapestries.

Viviers Rooftops (24 April 2006)

The cathedral is located on a bluff that overlooks the town…prime ground for defense and control; hence it is where the important buildings are located. From there one can look down on the uniform terracotta rooftops of the town center.

Wisteria at Number 3, Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

I can’t imagine anything behind this wall and door that looks as good as what’s out front.

Plane and Fancy Shadows, Viviers, France (24 April 2006)

The hazy sunlight cast odd shadows from the bare plane trees onto some building fronts. One doesn’t need much imagination to see more in this scene.

Next stop – Tournon.