Sunflowers and Castle Viviers France - Custom Dark Wood Framed 16 X 20 Oil On our trip to France last summer we stopped at the medieval town of Viviers which sits on a hillside overlooking the Rhone river valley.. Viviers was founded by the Roman’s in the year 200. The castle and fortifications were built in the 1200’s. The sunflowers were in full bloom in the morning light and with the castle above on the hill and created a dramatic landscape to paint.