Viviers
Visit Viviers (Rhone-Alpes, France)
Viviers is located in the southern-central part of the Ardeche department, a few kilometres south of Montelimar. It is a town that creates mixed impressions, with several very interesting highlights to discover - but they are not always presented in the best light. A town waiting to be discovered and improved perhaps.
Explore Viviers
Start your visit to Viviers in the streets around the Cathedral of Saint-Vincent, which is the centre of the old town. Dating from the 12th century to the 18th century the cathedral has some very fine features including its belltower and campanile, and the tapestries inside.
There is quite an extensive warren of narrow streets, with buildings that are sometimes very carefully renovated, other times rather derelict looking. All are interesting to explore, and a marked walk can be followed.
In the heart of the old town there is a particularly impressive 16th century renaissance building called the House of the Chevaliers, with a great deal of fine carving and ornamentation on the facade. Unfortunately the building itself is looking very neglected which is a tragedy for such a lovely building. Hopefully someone will take it in hand at some point (I hear that plans are underway)!
One feature I enjoyed is seeing a few houses painted in the faded pastel colours that we associate with Provence and are less common in the northern Ardeche - making you feel that you have arrived in the south of France!
Also to discover in Viviers are the town hall, previously a priest's palace dating from the 18th century; an arched bridge across the river; and the remains of the town ramparts. There are several other notable 17th-18th century grand houses around the town.
Behind the old town (just behind Viviers cathedral) there is a far reaching view across the roofs of the town and across the Rhone river to the distant mountains, as well as a large statue of the madonna standing on the hill above the town.
The view is slightly less idyllic than it might be because it also includes a distant power station and cement factory but it's well worth taking a look.
Attractions nearby
You will probably discover Viviers when exploring elsewhere in the Ardeche region. Close by we particularly recommend you visit the picturesque villages at Saint-Montan and Alba-la-Romaine, and of course no visit to the region would be complete without a tour of the Ardeche Gorges starting from Vallon Pont d'Arc.
Photos of Viviers
Click any picture to start the gallery
Tourist classifications for Viviers
Viviers is classified as a historical protected town centre' (secteur sauvegardé)
Address: Viviers, Privas, Ardeche, Rhone-Alpes, 7220 || GPS: latitude 44.4836, longitude 4.68972
Map of Viviers & places nearby
Highlights close by
Saint-Montan 7km
Montelimar 10km
Alba-la-Romaine 11km
La Garde-Adhemar 11km
See lots more places to visit nearby and a more detailed map at places near Viviers.
See Rhone-Alpes and Ardeche (the region and department for Viviers) for more travel ideas...
Suggested tourist attractions to visit near Viviers, France
- Jardin des herbes - remarkable garden (11km)
- Eglise de Saint Michel (La Garde-Adhemar) - religious monument (11km)
- Abbaye d'Aiguebelle (Montjoyer) - religious monument (13km)
- La Ferme aux crocodiles - zoo or wildlife park (14km)
- Cathédrale Notre-Dame (Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux) - religious monument (16km)
- Abbatiale Sainte-Marie (Cruas) - religious monument (20km)
- Aigueze - most beautiful village (23km)
- Vogue - most beautiful village (23km)
- Balazuc - most beautiful village (25km)
- Gorges de l'Ardeche - grand site of france (26km)
The French version of this page is at Viviers (Francais)
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