Vienne

Tuesday, July 24.  Good morning from Vienne, former home of the Gallic tribe of the Allobroges.  Sunny, clear, and warm.  We met off shore for our tour of this attractive and busy town, dotted with many reminders of the Roman civilization which flourished here in 47 BC.  

The Blue Group boarded the town's mini train that carried us up to the Chapelle du Mont Pipet where we enjoyed the magnificient views of the countryside and the Rhone River, and a view of the restored Roman Amphitheatre carved out of the side of a hill just below us between 40 and 50 AD, and is the site for the city's annual jazz festival this week at which Hugh Laurie of the television series  "House" is featured. 

Roman Amphitheatre in Vienne

After a ride back to the city centre we walked to the Temple of Augustus and Livia, built around 14 - 18 BC.  Because of the holes left when the inscription was removed, archeologists were able to line up the missing letters holes and were able to date the temple and know that the temple was dedicated to Caesar Augustus , son of Julius.  Our guide pointed out a nearby plaque explaining that Thomas Jefferson, once secretary of the American ambassador in France and later becoming ambassador himself, was so inspired by this temple that he returned to Richmond, Virginia, were he used the design for the city's Capitol.   

Temple of Augustus and Livia

We then wound our way through the winding streets to the Cathedrale St-Maurice, a 12th - 16th century church, not technically a cathedral because it isn't home to a bishop.  St-Maurice is the patron saint of the Army and the Swiss Guards.  The church has a gothic facade, both Romanesque and Gothic arches, and wonderful Flemish tapestries. 

Cathedrale St-Maurice

Trevoux's Fortified Castle

We returned to the Amadagio for lunch and then a splendid afternoon cruise through more locks, very low bridges (so low we were unable to sit on the upper deck of the ship), and past Lyon (France's second largest city) to Trevoux, former capital of Dombes.  We viewed lovely estates, chateaux, and were accompanied along the way be an occasional family of swans.  We docked during dinner, which was followed for a nice evening tour of the town which was home of the painter Maurice Utrillo. 

 Village North of Lyon

 Leaving Last Lock of the day

Early tour in the morning for Beaujolais tasting, so Bon nuit and a demain..........