Vienne and its Roman heritage • All PYRENEES · France, Spain, Andorra. Vienne (Fr. Vienne) is a commune in southeastern France, located 35 kilometres south of Lyon, at the confluence of the Gère river and the Rhône. Today, it is only the fourth largest city in the Isère department, of which it is a subprefecture, but was a major center of the Roman Empire. Before the arrival of the Roman armies, Vienne was the capital city of the Allobroges, a Gallic people. Transformed into a Roman colony in 47 BC under Julius Caesar, Vienne became a major urban center, ideally located along the Rhône, then a major axis of communication.
The city of Vienne enjoys a strategic position crossroads, near the main roads of North / South and East / West. Labeled “City of Art and History” since 1990 by the Ministry of Culture and Communication, Vienne shares with visitors its rich heritage and its quality of life. Today the town is a regional commercial and industrial centre, known regionally for its Saturday market. Tourism and main attractions Museums Culture and festivals Shopping.