Tucked away in the Rhône Valley north of Avignon, the little Provence town of Orange is a modest, modern-looking place that gives little impression that it’s home to two UNESCO World Heritage Sites and some of the best Roman remains in Europe.
The Théâtre Antique d'Orange, at the edge of the central town, is one of the best preserved of the great Roman theatres in the world. Its sheer scale as well as its remarkable condition is astounding.
The theatre was built under Emperor Augustus in the 1st century AD but closed by official edict in 391 when the Christian church disapproved of its uncivilised performances. Today, you can soak up the atmosphere and experience this ancient site at one of the summer spectacles hosted there.
The town's medieval heart is dominated by the massive Roman theatre wall, the only one in the world still standing. At 37 m (121 ft) high and 103 m (338 ft) long, it’s unmissable. The theatre was restored in the 19th century, having been used as a fort, prison and tenement since its closure. Although many of its decorative features such as friezes and statues are lost, it remains largely intact.
It was originally built to accommodate 10,000 spectators in rows of seats strictly divided by rank, but the remarkable acoustics ensured every word and note were audible in every seat. A small museum on the site displays finds including decorative friezes and plaques, amphoras, busts and vases as well as three cadastres (property surveys) dating from 77 BC. It also has displays on life during Roman times and the types of performances originally held here.
Orange's second World Heritage Site is a 1st-century monumental arch, decorated with low reliefs commemorating the establishment of the Pax Romana, a time of peace throughout the Roman Empire. It was built during the reign of Augustus on the former Via Agrippa, the Roman road network through Gaul.
who's been there
Start planning your tailor-made trip to Orange by contacting one of our France specialists
-
01993 838 92501993 838 925
- Make an enquiry
Places near Orange
- Ch芒teauneuf-du-Pape wine region 6 miles away
- Avignon 13 miles away
- Pont-du-Gard 19 miles away
- L'Isle-sur-la-Sorgue 20 miles away
- 鲍锄猫蝉 22 miles away
- 厂补颈苍迟-搁茅尘测-诲别-笔谤辞惫别苍肠别 25 miles away
- Gordes 26 miles away
- Les-Baux-de-Provence 28 miles away
- 惭茅苍别谤产别蝉 29 miles away
- Roussillon 30 miles away
- Arles 34 miles away
- Aix-en-Provence 53 miles away
- Provence 71 miles away
- 搁丑么苍别-础濒辫别蝉 79 miles away
- Saint-Tropez 110 miles away
- The French Riviera 110 miles away
- Grasse 111 miles away
- Lyon 113 miles away
- Saint-Paul-de-Vence 120 miles away
- Antibes 122 miles away
- Nice 126 miles away
- Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat 130 miles away
- 脠锄别 131 miles away
- Monaco and Monte Carlo 134 miles away
- Talloires 137 miles away
- Annecy 139 miles away
- Chamonix 155 miles away
- Dordogne 156 miles away
- 厂补谤濒补迟-濒补-颁补苍茅诲补 185 miles away
- La Roque-Gageac 185 miles away
- Castelnaud-la-Chapelle 187 miles away
- Beynac-et-Cazenac 188 miles away
- 厂补颈苍迟-脡尘颈濒颈辞苍 250 miles away
- Bordeaux 271 miles away
- Alsace 276 miles away
- Ch芒teau de Cheverny 284 miles away
- Ch芒teau de Chenonceau 285 miles away
- Ch芒teau de Chambord 288 miles away
- Ch芒teau de Chaumont-sur-Loire 290 miles away
- Amboise 292 miles away
- Colmar 299 miles away
- The Loire Valley 299 miles away