The acceptability of such pursuits deemed inappropriate, an in 391 AD under edit from the Catholic Church, the Orange theatre closed.Īfter the 4th century, barbarians plundered the structure. The popularity of dramatic, expensive productions enjoyed during Roman times declined as the influence of Christianity rose. It is remarkable, with such a tumultuous past that the theatre is so well conserved. However, the seating also served the purpose of distributing spectators according to their societal ranking, where the dominant military and political figures occupying choice locations in the theatre. Tiered seating was designed to provide better visibility for those viewers located further away from the stage. The combination of these elements created excellent acoustics. The design of Roman theatres was a semi-circle layout, with tiered seating, an orchestra podium and a stage wall. This massive wall served an acoustical purpose, and it is almost entirely intact.īuilt for entertainment purposes in Roman times, theatres were venues for comedies, tragedies, pantomimes and choral works. The towering stage wall is one of the features that make the Théâtre Antique d’Orange unique. Remarkably well-preserved, some experts argue that this theatre is the best remaining example from that era. This ancient theatre was declared a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1981, and with good reason, as it is outstanding. Today, the Arc de Triomphe d’Orange stands alone on a busy traffic corridor on the Route Nationale 7 (RN7).Ĭonstructed during the 1st Century AD under Roman direction, the Théâtre Antique d’Orange could hold up to 9,000 spectators. The exact timing of the construction of the arch is unclear, although, it once formed part of the town’s fortified walls during the middle ages. There is little evidence of the city’s former glory under the Roman empire other than the remains of two structures, the Arc de Triomphe and Théâtre Antique d’Orange. It is difficult to imagine Arausio’s (now Orange) prominence during Roman times. Later founded by the Romans, in 35 BC, there were key decision makers and military figures present in Arausio’s population.
Initially, the Celts established a settlement in this place in approximately 150 BC, calling it Arausio after their water god. Today, Orange is 21km from Avignon, although, smaller than the Papal city it once held the seat as the Roman capital of Northern Provence. With the night sky advancing the audience in the old Roman theatre – Théâtre Antique d’Orange – is filled with anticipation of a spectacular production. Les Chorégies d’Orange opera starts late, as the summer sun is setting, allowing the heat of the day to dissipate.
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