After cruising through the night, we woke up in Vienne. On one side of the river stands the Tour des Valois Sainte-Colombe, a remnant of the Franciscan monastery built here in 1260. On the opposite side on a hilltop high above the city are the ruins of the Château de la Bâtie, a 13th c. castle standing on the foundations of an earlier Roman fortress. Vienne was another town where I went for a bike ride around town (although you won’t see evidence of that in the videos).
In the heart of town is the Cathédrale Saint-Maurice, a Gothic structure with intricate stone carvings and stained glass windows. Mass was being celebrated during our visit.
The most impressive remnant of Vienne’s Roman era is the Temple d’Auguste et Livie, constructed in the 1st c. AD as the centerpiece of the town’s Forum. It has survived in such good condition thanks in large part to its transformation into a church in the 6th century.
Église de Cloître Saint-André-le-Bas is a medieval church with adjoining 12th c. Romanesque cloisters. It’s likely that the Burgundy Kings worshipped here during the 900s.
A medieval festival had set up shop amidst the Roman ruins in the Jardin Archaeologique de Cybèle as well as in the surrounding streets, complete with vintage costumes, livestock, swordsmanship, and juggling.
As the ship departs for the next port, we get closer views of the Tour des Valois Sainte-Colombe and the Château de la Bâtie.