Amphitheatre in Orange, France

The main historical symbol of the French city of Orange is an ancient theater, which is distinguished by a special exquisite design. It was built in the first century AD, during the reign of Emperor Augustine. The majestic arena came to desolation already in year 391. The amphitheater was closed by the decree of the Church and remained in desolation until the 19th century. After a complete reconstruction, the arena was again used for large cultural events. In summer the traditional Opera Festival is held here.

Unlike many other amphitheaters, the theater in Orange had been used not only to conduct gladiatorial fights, it had excellent performances in Latin. Initially, one of the main decorations of the arena was a statue of the Emperor Augustine. A majestic monument of 3.5 meters high survived to this day. The height of the walls of the theater is 36 meters, in the variety of other similar monuments of Roman architecture, it is considered one of the best preserved.

One of the main features of the ancient theater is its unique acoustics, which was appreciated by artists in the second half of the 19th century. The first theatrical performances here began to be held in 1869, since then the amphitheater is a permanent venue for the most important city holidays and cultural events. The theater in Orange has one more secret. It is the only arena in the world that managed to preserve the original scene, it has not been touched by numerous reconstructions. Next - Odeon of Herodes Atticus