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Bucket list experience:

VIew of the theatre at night filled with people watching a performance

Last updated: 09 November, 2022
Expert travel writer: Dana Facaros

Begun in 1860, the Choregies d’Orange is the oldest festival in France. Every year the city’s ancient Theatre Antique (with seating for 9,000) hosts a brief but exceptional opera and lyric music programme, starring performers such as Roberto Alagna.

The acoustics are perfect (aided by the installation of a new glass roof over the stage) and the sets, using the huge Roman stage wall, are breathtaking, making for an unforgettable night at the opera – under the stars.

Price from: £30
Minimum age: Any
Age suitable: 18+
Frequency: annually
When: July-August
Duration: 5 weeks

Getting there & doing it

The main events take place in the Roman theatre, but films, recitals and smaller events are held in the nearby Chapelle Saint-Louis.

Tickets go on sale on the official website in early October the previous year and are posted to buyers up to 15 days before a performance – or held at the office for collection.

Arrive in good time as it can be hard to locate your seat, and bring binoculars or opera glasses as well as a good cushion for the hard seats. Wet weather gear is also an idea.

Toilets are pretty basic, and you’ll need to eat before you go; there are drinks sold during the intermission, but that’s all.

When to do it

The festival runs for 5 weeks, from the second week of July to the first week in August.

Our writer’s picks of the best places to stay near this experience, closest first

Chateau de Massillan

Uchaux, Provence, France[10.8 miles]

A charming 16th-century chateau and spa in rural surrounds just north of Orange – ideal for relaxing in the Provencal sun.

Official star rating:

Le Clos Saint Saourde

Beaumes-de-Venise, Provence, France[19.8 miles]

Unique boutique guesthouse on an 18th-century farm, set in the beautiful wine region of Beaumes-de-Venise.

Official star rating:

La Mirande Hotel

Avignon, Provence, France[20.7 miles]

A magnificent, evocative and aristocratic luxury hotel, right next to Avignon’s Palace of the Popes.

Official star rating:

Hotel d’Europe

Avignon, Provence, France[20.7 miles]

An uber-luxury, boutique hotel set in a 16th-century mansion right in Avignon’s medieval centre. The city’s oldest hotel oozes elegance and class.

Official star rating:

Destination guides including or relevant to this experience

Provence

Provence, France

Gorgeous landscapes peppered with beautiful villages, sunflowers and lavender, art-filled towns, lively cultural festivals and exquisite food and wine. Provence is everything you imagined it would be.

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Our writer’s recommendations of other bucket list experiences our writer says you must do in this destination, closest first

Les Choregies d’Orange

Orange, Provence, France[0 miles]

France’s oldest festival, featuring exceptional lyrical and opera performances, held in the beautiful, crumbling 1st-century Theatre Antique.

Best for ages: 18+ | £30 | 5 weeks

Provence Wine Region

Provence, France[6.8 miles]

Postcard-perfect vineyards yielding world-famous wines – Provence is the home of the most prestigious Cotes du Rhone wines, including the reds of Chateauneuf-du-Pape, Gigondas, and Beaumes-de-Venise.

Best for ages: 18+ | Free

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Avignon Festival

Avignon, Provence, France[20.5 miles]

Nearly a thousand shows and exhibitions over three weeks, showcasing world-class drama, music and dance. France’s answer to the UK’s Edinburgh Festival.

Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 3 weeks

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Best for ages: 13+ | Free | 2 hours

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