The north-south road paved with large blocks of polygonal stones which crossed the ancient Roman quarter of La Villasse visible in Vaison-la-Romaine in the Vaucluse department led to the quays of the Ouvèze river. It opened onto a small port to which seasonal traffic of rafts transported agricultural commodities and finished products. Like Vaison-la-Romaine, most ancient Roman cities extended near a watercourse or the sea.