Where to Next?: Vieux Village Viviers

Today's village is the very old, very quaint and very gorgeous Viviers.

It is one of the best preserved medieval towns in Southern France and although it has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, not many tourists appear to be aware of this fact.

Except us..... cause we read the pamphlet.

This is the lovely tree lined street that leads from the river to the town - About 200m

Here in Viviers, you are allowed to park wherever the hell you want!

The medieval town of Viviers was divided into two separate sections. The Lower Town was originally the home of craftsmen and labourers largely employed to satisfy the bishop's needs. Their housing was accordingly cramped and simple. Toward the end of the Middle Ages, several wealthier traders settled in the town and created mansions fitting their rank and income. The Upper Town though, was the exclusive preserve of the bishop and his entourage The only access was through the 130 foot high Tower of St Michael, a mighty gateway containing a chapel that was equally suitable as a last line of defence against besiegers and as a means of keeping the local rif-raf at bay.

Here are some of the streets and houses in the Lower Town

Sunday could also be washing day?

This is the square in the Lower Town - it was a Sunday, so naturally we had the town to ourselves.

However we were supervised by this person (no name or plaque)

And this guy was peering out his window in his shorts.... until he had to take a phone call - hence my opportunity to take a photo.

You just marvel at the history in these villages and countries! Coming from Australia, who has history - sure, but it blows my mind to think these buildings were built in the 1400s. That's just crazy to think about!

You could be mistaken to think that nobody lived in these houses, but most of the windows had either flowers or herbs in pots.

Every now and then you'd see a little face peer out behind their floral fence, but as soon as you looked up, they would disappear.

There was only one cafe sort of starting to open up when we went past.... otherwise it was a snoozy Sunday sleep in for the villagers.

It wouldn't be a proper post without a door shot in there somewhere!

It's a little bit like the town that Jack built. All the streets are higgildy piggildy and the building are just built - wherever. I guess it's towns like this that created the need for town planners, especially in a place like France where they like everything to be ordered and symmetrical.

This person is obviously on trend - adorning her door with a bit of beaded bling.

It would have been nice to see some locals out and about, but on the other hand, it was nice to have the streets to ourselves, making it seem abandoned. Jenny referred to it as being like the Marie Celeste!

The first cathedral dated from the time when the bishops left Alba to establish themselves in Viviers in about 475AD. In the 6th Century, Saint Venance restored the cathedral and established a body of canons. The cathedral was consecrated in 1119 during the episcopate of Stain Léger. The original romanesque walls are still visible.

The alter in the cathedral was later decorated with tapestries.

It was quite a lovely space and we sat and were treated to a recital by the organist. Note, the organ is located at the top of the rear of the church and the people sit facing the front, so you get the full effect coming up from behind you.

It could have also been that he didn't want us to see that he wasn't actually playing...... but Je plaisante! Je plaisante! I think.... I couldn't see him!

After our recital, the gardener opened up the walled garden for us to have a look at. It was filled with lovely blooms and a pretty seating area.

There were a number of 'vistas' to look at from the cathedral. As it is on top of the highest hill in Viviers - it overlooks everything.....

Even some of the many nuclear power stations that they have in France. Apparently there are more here than in any other country and although they don't brag about this fact, they have spent a great deal of money to adjust all their infrastructure to work with nuclear power, so for them to move to something more Earth friendly would cost even most €uros.

And here's another one - in the same viste!

This is the Tower of St Michael

This was the view over the Lower Town from the tower. It's amazing to think that over 30,000 people lived here during a time when they had the most primitive sanitary conditions.

The cobblestones were interesting and must have been cut by hand to make them this shape..... but I'm no member of Tony Robinson's Time Team - that's just my guess.