Vienne, France: Temple of Augustus and Livia

If you aren't expecting it, this Roman temple can catch a tourist by surprise. It is tucked in the middle of this small town, so you round a corner and there it is.

The building went up about two thousand years ago to honor Augustus and his wife Livia. The rest of the building didn't fare as well as this part, suffering through a fire and possible earthquake. The area was turned into a church for a while, and then a court and library. Finally, it went back to an historical landmark around 1880, and has undergone some renovations to keep looking good since then.

By the way, there is a plaque right across the street that salutes Thomas Jefferson and pays tribute to the idea of good relations between France and the United States.

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