This area has been inhabited since Prehistoric times, as is demonstrated
by the remains found in the Quartier de la Villasse, under the Gallo-Roman
excavations. But the actual beginnings of Ovasion (as Vaison was known
at the time) date back to the Voconces - a Celtic tribe which had
been occupying the Valley of the Ouvèze since the end of the
4th B.C. The Territory was then seized by the Roman troops of C.Sextius
in 124 B.C. Later on the town was given the title of "Federated
City". The inhabitants of Vaison are then known as the Vasienses.
One of the first big developments in the City was the bridge over
the River Ouvèze. Vasio did not follow the traditional methods
for constructing a town: its houses were south-facing, sheltered from
the Mistral wind, and, like in the area of Narbonne, they were articulated
around the Atrium, which is the family centre. There pervaded throughout
the town sensations of calm, freshness and practicality, with a great
number of individual and detached houses...
The museums of Avignon, Vaison itself, and St Germain en Laye have
numerous relics dating back to this period; everyday tools, works
of art, jewels... Vasio la Voconce lasted for almost 4 centuries.
Vaison came into being in approximately 150 AD. The town was a very
active one with workers, peasants, shopkeepers, wine growers... The
area's vineyards produce a "sweet" wine of the Voconces.
This
balance was destroyed by the arrival of the Barbarians - the inhabitants
having to take refuge on the hill for their safety, whilst the City
itself became a Necropolis. Christianity implanted itself quite early
- the first Christian monuments were built over the ruins of the antic
City. The first Bishops were nominated in the 3rd century of our era.
In 558, Vaison is occupied by the Lombards and the Saxons. Quinus
(Saint Quentin the Gentle), an Archdeacon, became renowned for converting
the terrifying Mummol, a Barbarian, and for then redistributing all
the items that
Mummol bestowed upon him to the needy. A chapel was built in his honour
during the 12 th century. The Bishops often had problems with the
counts.
In 1160 Raymond V took the Episopate Palace, as well as Crestet and
Rasteau. His son Raymond VI continued the struggle against the bishops
and built the Castle in 1193. The Clergy then left the town. It is
only in the 4th century
that the Popes regain possession of the town and reach an understanding
with the Counts of Toulouse.
77 Bishops will then succeed each other. Their power is at its height
during the 16th century. The Cathedral was built in 1480. Monseigneur
Joseph Marie de Suarez was one of the most notable figures of the
city. He was on the
Episcopal Siege from 1633 to 1666. Cultivated, widely-travelled, he
had dealings with the biggest humanists and scholars of his time.
Founder of the Epigraphy of the Comtat, his writings provide precious
information on ecclestiastical life of the times.
The town becomes Vaison-la-Romaine in 1923. The first excavations
were led by the Abbey Sautel, a professor from Avignon, between 1907
and 1955. It is in 1908 that the first remains of the Antic Theatre
were discovered, as well as numerous fragments of statues. From 1929
to 1939, the work was funded by Raymond Burrus, a period during which
a great many important discoveries came to light, especially in the
areas of the town known as Puymin and Villasse (luxurioux Gallo-Roman
mansions). From 1921, in spite of it still being worked on, the theatre
begins playing host to classic art works. In 1948, fresh from a huge
success in Avignon, Jean Villar comes to play.
The
Choralies, an immense musical gathering, was founded in 1952. It is
from the chorus "à coeur joie" written by César
Geoffray in 1950 that it emanates. The town of Vaison la Romaine is
now also unfortunately famous for the
catastrophe it endured in 1992 which saw the normally peaceful River
Ouvèze burst its banks and turn into a torrent which devastated
all before it, drowning many people. Only the ancient Roman bridge,
over 2000 years old, survived
that awful day.
