In Vienne, known as “little Rome on five hills,” you’ll find forty historic monuments that recount twenty-five centuries of history – from the days of the Gallo-Roman capital to the Templar city. This journey through time begins in the 1st century BC.
Vienne, capital of the Allobroges
In ancient times, around 2nd century BC, all roads from Northern Italy led not to Rome, but to Vienne! Situated on the banks of the Rhône, the capital of the Allobroges, a Gallic tribe, was a vital gateway to Lyon, Arles and Marseille, with infrastructure that rivalled that of the Eternal City.
It’s easy to appreciate the city’s magnificent past when you climb up to the Pipet Belvedere, 235 metres above sea level. From this vantage point, you can see its majestic descent towards the river, as well as its immense ancient theatre, which held 13,500 spectators, and the 3,000-seat Odeon, where the Empire’s greatest poets and musicians performed.
The tour of the old town begins with the remains of the city wall built under the Emperor Augustus. It ran along the five hills on the left bank of the Rhône. We then head for the ancient forum. The two surviving arcades of the Roman portico are a reminder of the chic shopping area that once formed the heart of the city. The adjoining Cybèles Garden offers a green setting for a moment of reflection. In the first half of July, it hosts one of the venues for the Jazz à Vienne festival when the whole town resounds to the sound of music, from midday to midnight!
It was in Vienne, in 1312, that the fate of the Knights Templar was sealed. This momentous episode in history took place at Saint Maurice Cathedral, renowned for its superb flamboyant Gothic style.
American tourists are often surprised to find a building in Vienne that is identical to their White House: the Temple of Augustus and Livia, with its Corinthian columns, is almost a carbon copy of the Capitol in Richmond, Virginia!
Except that this Viennese landmark was built 800 years earlier.
While visiting the Gallo-Roman city as US ambassador in Paris in 1784, Thomas Jefferson, the future President of the United States and an architect by training, was inspired by the Viennese temple. Fifteen years later, he had the Virginia State Capitol built, drawing from the numerous sketches he had made during his visit. This design served as a model for capitols constructed in every state in America, including the White House in Washington.
