Viviers (French pronunciation: [vivje], also Viviers-sur-Rhône; Occitan: Vivièrs) is a city in the department of Ardèche in southern France. It is the smallest city in France by area and population.
![]() | This article may be expanded with text translated from the corresponding article in French. (December 2008) Click [show] for important translation instructions.
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Viviers | |
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Commune | |
![]() Coat of arms | |
Location of Viviers ![]() | |
![]() ![]() Viviers ![]() ![]() Viviers | |
Coordinates: 44°29′01″N 4°41′23″E | |
Country | France |
Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
Department | Ardèche |
Arrondissement | Privas |
Canton | Bourg-Saint-Andéol |
Intercommunality | Rhône aux Gorges de l'Ardèche |
Government | |
• Mayor (2020–2026) | Martine Mattei |
Area 1 | 34.15 km2 (13.19 sq mi) |
Population | 3,689 |
• Density | 110/km2 (280/sq mi) |
Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
• Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
INSEE/Postal code | 07346 /07220 |
Elevation | 55–400 m (180–1,312 ft) (avg. 71 m or 233 ft) |
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. |
The administrative and religious capital of Vivarais, the town of Viviers, on the right bank of the Rhône, in southern Ardèche, retains an important heritage from its rich past, including many listed monuments. These include the Town Hall, in the former bishops' palace; the 18th-century Hôtel de Roqueplane, now the seat of the diocese; the Cathedral of St Vincent, Romanesque, flamboyant Gothic and 18th-century in style, with its choir decorated by Gobelins tapestries and its marble high altar; the 16th-century Knights' House (Maison des Chevaliers) with its Renaissance façade, decorated with medallioned busts; and the Grande Rue with the elegant mansions of Beaulieu and Tourville, both dating from the 18th century.
Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
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1968 | 3,389 | — |
1975 | 3,194 | −0.84% |
1982 | 3,282 | +0.39% |
1990 | 3,407 | +0.47% |
1999 | 3,413 | +0.02% |
2007 | 3,869 | +1.58% |
2012 | 3,908 | +0.20% |
2017 | 3,730 | −0.93% |
Source: INSEE[2] |
Viviers became the capital of the Gaulish Helvii tribe following the decline of nearby Alba-la-Romaine.
In late Roman times, it also became a bishopric and the capital of the pays Vivarais. Today, it is still the see of the bishop of Ardèche.
In the 6th century, Venant de Viviers served as the Bishop of Viviers.[3]
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