It is absolutely huge and almost completely intact. I was a little dubious going here as to whether it would be worth a visit, or even its place on the World Heritage list, as there are already plenty of other examples of Roman Theatres included. Only one statue has been replaced, made out of bits and pieces that were found. The stage itself is massive of course, but lacks the original decoration. It for example points out the new (glass) stage roof, which was added in 2006 and preserves the ancient acoustics. An audio guide is included in the 9 EUR entrance fee, and is worth listening to when you’re seated on one of the benches inside the theatre. The Roman Theatre is a bit more of a tourist spectacle, though I get the impression that most of the large tour buses that whisk Japanese, Chinese and Americans around the Provence omit Orange from their journeys. I was the only visitor, and there was no entrance fee or guard. Its reliefs are remarkable indeed, especially the ones at the top. It stands in the middle of a roundabout nowadays, but there’s enough empty space around it to be able to observe the arch. There are a few signposts and the object is big enough to see from some distance. It is run by a far right-wing mayor, and I wonder if his election was the result of the decay or that it has caused it.įirst I made my way to the Triumphal Arch just a little north of the city center. The city looks somewhat impoverished and doesn’t invite you to linger after you’ve seen the WHS. I arrived by train (the ride takes only 14 minutes) and walked to both monuments that lie about 10 minutes away. I visited Orange on a half-day trip from Avignon. Restoration work was carried out a few years ago and the arch appears again in bright white.Īs WHS and cities go, this isn’t among the best. The reliefs and decorations are very well preserved.
The Triumphal Arch (photo) is just a short distance from the city center in the middle of a roundabout. The terraces for the spectators were carved out the hillside, favourable for the stability of the construction and the acoustics, but only the first three of the original rows have been preserved. As an opera fan, I would love to see a performance, but unfortunately June was too early, the festival was in July and August. The theatre is still a venue for concerts and performances, it houses the summer opera festival Chorégies d'Orange. We sat down on one of the upper terraces, listened to the audio guide, and we tried to imagine how the stage might have looked almost 2000 years ago. “The finest wall in my kingdom”, as Louis XIV has described the theatre. Some more finds of the archaeological excavations are shown in the nearby museum. But there are only sparse remains of the original decoration: a few pillars and the imperial statue of Augustus in the central niche. The Roman Theatre is the main sight in Orange, the stage wall is amazingly well-preserved. Thus, a half day is enough time to properly visit the site. As mentioned by other reviewers, the city has not much to offer apart from the Roman Theatre and the Triumphal Arch. Orange is the northernmost site of the WHS hotspot in Provence.
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