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June 29, 2025 In 2025, France
Friday 27 June: Viviers

We had a morning sailing and then guided walking tours of the small town of Viviers. It’s historic (like all the towns) and cute with a castle on the hill. The main reason for the visit to this area were the optional bus tours to the lavender fields and truffle farm. Given my tendency to hay fever and dislike of truffles I was happy to miss those trips.

Viviers has a cathedral on a hill with a great view outside over the Rhone Valley.

Looking up towards the castle
Loads of narrow streets with connecting tunnels. Many of the houses have secret doors that connect to the tunnels.
This connection is just for support.
Entrance to the cathedral

The valley is very fertile but also very industrial. There are 4 nuclear power stations in the area, one of which produces the majority of the world’s enriched uranium. There is also a huge cement plant, recently purchased by Holcim, and it’s a centre for nougat production.

Nuclear power plant in distance and cement plant in distance at left.
We passed this nuclear power station.
The view out over the town looking back towards the location of the first photo.

We were treated to a performance in the cathedral (the smallest in France) by a local opera singer. It was beautiful.

She sang 6 different songs, some religious, some operatic and some from musical shows.
The gothic sanctuary was a more recent addition in the 1600s funded by one of the bishops who wanted a grander office.
Many of the streets in various towns are lined with plane trees, which are a variety of Sycamore. Evidently they were planted by Napoleon lll to provide shade for his troops as they passed along. He obviously anticipated a long campaign!

Following dinner we had a cornhole competition. Essentially teams of 2 throwing bean bags onto a wooden slope with a small hole. The teams with US membership definitely had an advantage but Mike and I were finalists running a close second, thanks mainly to Mike’s efforts.

Loads of fun was had by all.

Previous StoryThursday 26 June: Avignon
Next StorySaturday 28 June: Tournon sur Rhone

LATEST POSTS

  • Saturday 28 June: Tournon sur Rhone June 29, 2025
  • Friday 27 June: Viviers June 29, 2025
  • Thursday 26 June: Avignon June 28, 2025
  • Wednesday 25: Arles June 28, 2025

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