Roaming the Rhone

The Rhone region is just gorgeous. I have been spending some time exploring outside the confines of Lyon, and having a blast - so much so that I am staying a few extra days. Yesterday it was an exploration of the Croix-Rouisse where the silk workers lived and created gorgeous tapestries. It is now very much a working class area, a little worn at the edges, but with amazing views over the valley.

Today it was a venture to Vienne. Vienne was once the capitol of the Gallic Roman Empire. A massive town that straddled the Rhone within a massive wall built not for protection but for show and intimidation. Parts of the wall are still visible, especially where the cling to the hillside. The place was chosen probably because it was reminiscent of Rome - surrounded by five hills with a large river passing through. In the mid 1960's a new school was being built and during the groundwork a veritable archeological treasure trove was found. They are still excavating, all these years later, and are only about a third of the way done.

A Roman amphitheatre is still in use on the eastern side of the Rhone, and a lovely museum and archeological complex are the jewel of the right bank. I spent a very pleasant couple of hours meandering. The town is also home to two ancient churches, a large ruined castle that towers on a hill above town and a couple of huge chateaus that date back to around the 1300's. It is an interesting mix of ancient and modern (and a little of everything in between).

The town itself is charming, and I arrived on Market day - a street market that winds through the heart of the town. Everything from meat to lingerie are for sale. Fruits, vegetables, butchers, cheese sellers, book sellers, toy sellers, kitchen ware - you name it, it was there. And just because it was the fourth of July and I am an American abroad, I had my very own fireworks show in a spectacular thunderstorm. I decided to watch the spectacular from the vantage of a lovely cafe, enjoying a plate of carpaccio of beef in olive oil, a nice Cotes du Rhone and a salad verte. I could get used to this!