Orange

"best known and most visited for its Roman monuments The two monuments of Roman architecture, the Ancient Theatre and the Triumphal Arch, are central to your visit to Orange. Both have been very well conserved over the centuries, and have been the subject of extensive studies to identify all the symbolism they contain, above all that of the Triumphal Arch. Roman Theatre in Orange The Ancient Theatre in Orange is one of the best conserved Roman monuments in France, and the most important of the two Roman monuments in Orange. It is on the southern edge of the town centre. The Roman Theatre, at 37 meters high and over 100 metres long is in fact among the best preserved artefacts of the Ancient World. Also built in the Augustan period, it has almost perfect acoustics. The stage is in very good condition and very high, and only the original decorations have disappeared. The theatre can hold almost ten thousand spectators and opera performances are still held here. Triumphal Arch The Arc de Triomphe in Orange is a few hundred metres north of the town centre on the main road that leaves Orange towards the north (the N7), and rather surrounded by traffic, but you can still easily get across to the arch... The arch has a height of about 22 meters and a width of 21 meters, with three arches of which the Central Arch is the largest. It is located on the ancient Via Agrippa (the Roman trade route from Lyon to Arles) and features numerous ornate carvings relating to the history of the conquests of Augustus, the Roman supremacy over the gauls and also various religious symbols."