Vienne
A Roman town 30 km south of Lyon, with well-preserved Temple of Augustus and Livia and Roman theater, and a jazz festival renowned across Europe.
In Roman times Vienne was a major city in Gaul. The Temple of Augustus and Livia in the city center, built in the 1st century BC, is considered, along with the Maison Carrée in Nîmes, one of the best-preserved Roman temples in France. On the hillside, the ancient Roman theater seats about 13,000 people and hosts the Jazz à Vienne festival every summer. Across the river in Saint-Romain-en-Gal is the Gallo-Roman Museum, which displays exquisite mosaic floors. Also worth seeing are the Roman Pyramid (an obelisk at the racetrack) and Saint-Maurice Cathedral. From Lyon, the TER takes about 20 minutes.
Opening hours
Open all day; ancient theater and museum approx. 9:30 am–6:00 pm, closed Mon
Nearby sights
- Musée des Confluences
- Institut Lumière
- Lyon Confluence
- Centre d'Histoire de la Résistance et de la Déportation
- Berges du Rhône
- Musée des Tissus et des Arts décoratifs
- Basilica of Saint-Martin d'Ainay
- Place Bellecour & Presqu'île