Day 2: Paris

After breakfast, tour the Roman Baths in the Latin Quarter – now housing the Museum of Middle Ages. These Gallo-Roman baths are one of the most impressive vestiges of ancient architecture preserved on Gallic soil. Here we see the 3 important rooms: the caldarium, tepidarium and the frigidarium and remnants of the gymnasiums. Next we see the remains of a Roman Amphitheater near Rue Monge. These remains, though easily missed are a testament to the Romans who founded the city of Lutetia, as Paris was first called.

Travel by coach to Lyon. On the way, we stop at Sens, a city which wielded considerable influence in the Gallic era. The city possessed an amphitheatre, thermal baths, and a forum and in the 4^th century, Sens became of province of the Lyonnaise. Today we can see the façade of the Thermal Baths and can view the mosaics, ceramics and glassware in the museum which give us a comprehensive picture of the life in the ancient city.

Next we stop at the Museum of Gallo-Romaine Civilization which holds extraordinary artifacts almost all found in the Rhône Valley. A few of the treasures include the remains of a four-wheeled vehicle from around 700BC, several mosaics and many Latin inscriptions. Also tour the rebuilt Roman theatre and Odeon next to the museum which was discovered in 1933.

Today we start out by touring the former Roman colony of Vienne. One of the largest settlements in Gaul, the city is famed for its Roman amphitheatre that today is famously known for its annual 2-week jazz festival held at the end of June. Also see the Corinthian columns of the Temple d’Auguste et de Livie, a superb Roman temple built around 10BC to honor Emperor Augustus and his wife, Livia. Across the river on the right bank are the remains of the Gallo-Roman city of St Romain-en-Gal which have been excavated.

Next we visit the important 2^nd century BC Roman city of Vaison-La-Romaine. The Roman remains discovered here include villas decorated with mosaics, colonnaded streets, public baths, a theatre and an aqueduct. We will visit one of 2 sites- either the Excavations of Puymin, containing houses, mosaics and a theatre or the Excavations of the Villasse. Also we will see more artifacts in the Archaeological Museum including its collection of statues – one of a silver bust of the likenesses of Hadrian and his wife Sabina.

Rest of day free to explore Avignon on your own

We visit Orange’s magnificent Roman theatre designed to seat about 10,000 spectators. It was probably built during the time of Augustus Caesar (27Bc to 14AD). Its stage wall is the only such Roman structure still standing in its entirety (minus the roof). See also Orange’s Roman triumphal arch, one of the most remarkable of its kind in France. Built around 20BC it exhibits exceptional friezes commemorating Julius Caesar’s victories over the Gauls in 49BC.

Next, we see the excellently preserved 3-tiered Roman aqueduct was once part of the 50 km-long system of canals built about 19BC by Agrippa to bring water from near Uzès to Nîmes. There are 35 small arches on the upper tier which contain a watercourse designed to carry 20,000 cubic metres of water a day. The stone was quarried from nearby Vers quarry.

Day 6: Arles, Glanum

Drive next to Arles, the city made famous by Vincent Van Gogh. However, we will focus our energy on seeing partly preserved Thermes de Constantin built in the 4^th century and the Roman Arena which dates from the end of the 1^st century BC.  In the early medieval period, during the Arab invasions, the Arena was transformed into a fortress; 3 of the 4 defensive towers can still be seen.  Today, the Arena is still used – but for bullfighting.

Day 7: Aix-en-Provence

Day 8: Marseille

Day 9: Nice

Drive to Nice, the capital of the Riviera. Settled around 350BC by Greek mariners, the colony was named “Nikaia”, apparently to commemorate a victory over a nearby town. In 154BC, the Greeks were followed by the Romans who settled uphill around an area now known as “Cimiez”.

We will tour the ruins of the Roman city of “Cemenelum” and also the focus of the Archaeology Museum.

Rest of day free.