Last modified: 2025-04-26 by olivier touzeau
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![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84-vr.gif)
Flag of Vaison-la-Romaine - Image by Olivier Touzeau, 7 February 2025
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Vaison-la-Romaine (5,920 inhabitants, 2,699 ha) is a town in the Vaucluse department, famous for its rich Roman ruins and medieval town and cathedral. It is also unusual in the way the antique, medieval and modern towns spanning 2,000 years of history lie close together. The old town is split into two parts: the "upper city" or Colline du Château on a hill on one side of the Ouvèze, and on the opposite bank, the "lower city" centred on the Colline de la Villasse. With four theatres and numerous exhibitions and galleries, Vaison-la-Romaine is also renowned for its art scene. Many writers, painters and actors live in the area
At the origin of the city, a sacred spring, dedicated to the divinity
Vasio, whose name evokes a wet place, a spring. At the end of the 4th
century BC, "Vasio Vocontiorum" (Vaison of the Voconces) became the
capital of a tribe of the Celtic people of the Voconces. After the
Roman conquest (125-118 BC), the Romans made it one of the richest
cities in Narbonne Gaul. After the fall of the Roman Empire, Vaison
became a relatively important religious center (a bishopric existed
there from the 4th century) where two councils met, in 442 and 529.
The barbarian invasions of the 5th century nevertheless weakened the
city.
During the troubled times of the Middle Ages, the inhabitants
emigrated to the steep rock on the left bank of the Ouvèze River,
sheltered by the ramparts and the fortified castle. Until the 12th
century, the city developed on the plain around the cathedral and the
episcopal palace where it suffered several invasions due to conflicts
between the counts of Toulouse and the successive bishops. In the 13th
century, the population sought refuge on the rock, at the foot of the
castle built by the counts of Toulouse, but which had become papal
property. It was in this context that the medieval city that still
exists today prospered in papal territory.
In the 18th century, most of the population returned to the plain. The 20th century saw a real renaissance in Vaison, and the small town patiently regained its status as a city, with an economy based on both viticulture and tourism. This boom was due in particular to the creation of the railway line from Orange to Buis-les-Baronnies which served the city from 1907 to 1952. This was also reflected in the interwar period: one only has to look at the many traces left in Vaisonnais urban planning by the architecture of the 1930s, within the modern city itself, with its characteristic ironwork, its modern-style balconies and the green or pink colours of some buildings. Vaison became Vaison-la-Romaine in 1924 because of the many Roman remains found there.
On June 9, 1944, a first liberation of Vaison-la-Romaine took place: the Vasio maquis, reinforced by the French Forces of the Interior of the Ventoux maquis, invested the city. The German reaction was very rapid: 2,500 men of the Wehrmacht attacked the city the next day. The fighting left 60 dead in the German ranks, 17 among the resistance fighters.
The flood of September 22, 1992 occurred during the autumn storms that can occur on Mediterranean waterways in the mid-mountains. This major meteorological event, referred to as a Mediterranean episode, seems to have been amplified by land use and river bed management methods. History and geomorphological analysis indicate, in fact, that the Ouvèze has already experienced floods as significant as that of September 22, 1992. It is characterized by its short duration and intensity. Indeed, in four hours, it fell, depending on the location, between 300 mm in Entrechaux near Vaison-la-Romaine, 143 mm in Buis-les-Baronnies, in the Drôme, 179 mm in Vaison and 215 mm in Malaucène. In addition, barely five hours passed between the flood and the start of the receding waters. All night long and for several days, rescuers will work to find the victims. This rise in water levels will be forever marked by the loss of life: 37 deaths, 4 missing. The material losses amount to more than 113 million euros.
Olivier Touzeau, 7 February 2025
Appearing in the 18th century, the current coat of arms is blazoned as follows:
Or with a vase Argent, topped with a cross pattée Sable, flanked by
two vines sable, emerging from the vase, leaved Vert and fructed
Azure, and falling to the sides of the vase.
A free representation of there arms, with the vines protruding from the shield was in use as he emblem of the commune until 2024. A white flag with this emblem could be seen at the top of the tower of the county castle: photo, photo (2017), photo (2020), photo (2022).
Olivier Touzeau, 7 February 2025
Centennial flag of Vaison-la-Romaine
![[Flag]](../images/f/fr-84-v100.gif)
Cetennial flag of Vaison-la-Romaine - Image byOlivier Touzeau, 7 February 2025
In 2024, a centennial logo was adopted to celebrate the change of name of the commune in 1924. The flag at the castle was replaced during the year 2024 by a white flag with this logo: photo, photo, photo.
Olivier Touzeau, 7 February 2025