Viens, Vaucluse

Viens is a southern French town in the Vaucluse department in the Provence- Alpes- Côte d' Azur.

The village lies in the middle of the Regional Natural Park of Luberon. The first mention dates back to over a thousand years. The old village center, situated on a cliff top above the valley of the Coulon, still bears complete medieval features: stone-built houses, centuries-old Tordurchgänge, small landscaped courtyards, narrow streets that open out again and again to small terraces to the views of the Luberon and the Montagne de Lure release. Strict building codes has been able to maintain historic buildings and to prevent construction that would destroy the original character. Thus, no mass tourism could arise in this region. Viens, however, has a range of apartments, which will be talking mostly families with children.

Viens counts 621 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011), of which about half is distributed to 21 foreign nationalities. Outside the village center emerged in recent years a small neighborhood with typical villas that are mainly used as a second residence of the French from Marseille, Lyon, Paris, and many Germans. Many artists have settled in and around Viens.

In the village is the nationally known beekeeping Bresc whose honey is exported to the United States.

Four kilometers from Viens is a former monastery, is housed which now houses the Hotel St. Paul.

In the chapel of St. Ferreol from the 16th century regular art exhibitions and concerts take place in the summer months.