Viviers

VIviers was founded on the banks of the Rhone by the Romans in the 5th century in the Ardeche department. It became a bishop's seat and because of the many conflicts over the years the town required fortification. Some of the buildings date back to the middle ages. Within the Old Town, it seemed that every street on which we walked was still cobblestoned. In fact, VIviers is described as one of the best-preserved medieval towns in southern France. Oh, and note the plane tree (a type of sycamore) that is very common in this area.

During the Middle Ages there were about 30,000 inhabitants; today there about 4,000. A walk around must include St. Vincent Cathedral (aka Viviers Cathedral), as well as La Maison des Chevaliers (House of the Knights).

Not the small bridges across from one building to the other - partly there to keep the buildings from collapsing inward, and of course to provide a path from one to the other as well (if you don't mind walking across!

Viviers Cathedral is the smallest active cathedral in France. It is a very interesting building, as it combines Romanesque, Gothic and 18th century architectural styles. It has been a protected historical monument since 1906.

La Maison des Chevaliers my sound like a place where knights resided, but actually, it was apparently never owned by knights. We were told that it may have once been a Roman era home, but it didn't become know as it is now until receiving a Renaissance makeover. The 3rd picture is not mine.

And finally, lovely sunrise from the Hermod deck.