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Many discoveries as silex tools and earthenware are the proof that this place was inhabited at the prehistoric era.
Furnished tombs, traces of former habitations, coins, vases, steles, a nymphaeum (source transformed into a fountain), amphora, witness to the continuity of the inhabiting and to the importance of the Romanization. The name Visan comes from a latin landowner Avisano.
At the fifth century, Visan was a part of the large estates of the Saint-Cesaire Abbaye of Arles.
At the tenth century, Visan was a fortified and independent town and remained a fortified place for about two centuries.
The Holy See was interested in Visan because of its strategical situation between the Comtat Venaissin and Valréas, and in 1344 Visan became the Popes' property.
On February 23rd, 1351, Visan was granted a charter of freedom.
During the wars of religion, Visan, which belonged to the Popes, was taken and occupied by the Baron des Adrets in 1562.
In 1563, Serbelloni, who led the Popes'troops took back the town but, when withdrawing, the occupying forces destroyed the fortified castle of which it remains, nowadays, only a great piece of wall called the Marot.
In 1576, Visan was granted the title of town by order of vice-legate Passioncei. The armorial bearings are golden with a silver-faced blue dolphin.
A new church was built to replace the former one which had tumbled down, its bell-tower was built in 1600, it is topped by a beautiful hand-wrought iron campanile. In 1791, the Comtat Venaissin was declared united to France, Visan and the three neighbouring towns : Valréas, Grillon, Richerenches, formed the Popes'Enclave.
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| See the photos "The Village of Visan" |
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