Avignon
Price €149
Min age 4
Rating 4.14 / 5 [99 ratings]
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Travel bucket list idea:
Orange, Provence, France
The impressive Roman Theatre of Orange
Roman theatres have survived across the Mediterranean, but few can match the glorious one in Orange, where the massive stage wall (much admired by Louis XIV) has survived intact.
Built early in the 1st century AD, it’s one of the best-preserved Ancient Roman theatres in the world and is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It served as a venue for theatre and spectacles until the 4th century AD, when Christianity became the official religion of the Roman Empire and the Church shut it down, believing the spectacles to be unholy.
Today up to 10,000 spectators can still sit and enjoy its pitch-perfect ancient acoustics, under the watchful eye of a statue of Augustus, when it’s used for live performances including summer’s fabulous Les Choregies d’Orange opera festival. A ticket to the ancient theatre includes admission to the Musée d’Orange (Museum of Orange), which contains archaeological finds and paintings from the area.
The Roman Theatre is located in the centre of Orange, 30 minutes’ drive from Avignon. There’s a free car park 800m away. The nearest train station is at Avignon.
Save time and avoid queues in peak season by buying tickets online and printing them out at home. Free audio guides are available in multiple languages upon arrival.
There’s a good restaurant and snack bar onsite, with beautiful views from the terrace. In popular July and August, Orange’s restaurants fill up with opera-goers dining before the festival performances. So book a restaurant table when you book your ticket – Easter isn’t too early.
The theatre is open all year round, seven days a week. It looks its best in the late afternoon light on a fine, sunny day.
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Avignon
Price €149
Min age 4
Rating 4.14 / 5 [99 ratings]
Tour supplied by: