In pre-Roman times, the Durance was the border between various Celto-Ligurian people established along its course, such as the Cavares (Cavaillon) and the Salyes (Bouches-du-Rhône).

The valley of the Durance is a route through the Alps, used by the Via Domitia.
A statue of Janus was erected at Montgenèvre, the only passage between Cisalpine Gaul and Gallia NarbonensisStrabon (1st century) reported that a ferry was established in Cavaillon, The great Roman way from Spain to Italy only crossed the Durance at Cavaillon and Sisteron.
The existence of a bridge at Sisteron was recorded.
At other places there were ferries, in particular at Pertuis, whose name is based on it ferry.
Although it was difficult to cross, except in Sisteron, the Durance was nevertheless navigable.
The bas-reliefs at Cabrières-d'Aigues depict the river being used for the transport of various liquid food products such as wine and olive oil.
Gallo-Romans used the towpaths (helciarii) and the wind to move upstream.
Several specialized businesses maintained this system transport.
Workers known as nautes had a monopoly of transport on large rivers and used boats, whereas the utricularii  operated on the small rivers and in the marshes using rafts floating on inflated goatskins.
There were two groups of utriculari, one  in Sisteron and one in Riez.

This trade fed the activity of an important port, near to the crossroads at Sisteron, at the place called 'Le Bourguet'.
In the vicinity of L'Escale a port existed before the Roman conquest, but was developed during the 1st century BC, and was prosperous until the Crisis of the 3rd Century, before recovering its economic activity until the beginning of the 5th century.
In pre-Roman times, the Durance was the border between various Celto-Ligurian people established along its course, such as the Cavares (Cavaillon) and the Salyes (Bouches-du-Rhône).
The valley of the Durance is a route through the Alps, used by the Via Domitia. A statue of Janus was erected at Montgenèvre, the only passage between Cisalpine Gaul and Gallia NarbonensisStrabon (1st century) reported that a ferry was established in Cavaillon, The great Roman way from Spain to Italy only crossed the Durance at Cavaillon and Sisteron. The existence of a bridge at Sisteron was recorded. At other places there were ferries, in particular at Pertuis, whose name is based on it ferry. Although it was difficult to cross, except in Sisteron, the Durance was nevertheless navigable. The bas-reliefs at Cabrières-d'Aigues depict the river being used for the transport of various liquid food products such as wine and olive oil. Gallo-Romans used the towpaths (helciarii) and the wind to move upstream. Several specialized businesses maintained this system transport. Workers known as nautes had a monopoly of transport on large rivers and used boats, whereas the utricularii  operated on the small rivers and in the marshes using rafts floating on inflated goatskins. There were two groups of utriculari, one  in Sisteron and one in Riez.
This trade fed the activity of an important port, near to the crossroads at Sisteron, at the place called 'Le Bourguet'. In the vicinity of L'Escale a port existed before the Roman conquest, but was developed during the 1st century BC, and was prosperous until the Crisis of the 3rd Century, before recovering its economic activity until the beginning of the 5th century.
Durance