2nd November, Orange

The Roman City of Orange was founded in about 35 BC and bears witness to the splendour of the Roman age in Provence. It is 20 kms from Sablet.
The Roman relics in this town are quite something. They include, but are not limited to;-

• The Roman Theatre which housed in excess of 9,000 people, and which was built at the start of the Christian era. It is the best preserved stone theatre in the Western  Roman Empire and is used today for concerts of all types.
• The Arc de Triomphe, from the 1st century, and which was dedicated to the "glory of the veterans who founded the Roman Colony of Orange".
• "The Cadastres Romains", from the 1st century were a system of land distribution and evaluation of taxes and they are "carved in stone" (marble actually). There are three in Orange and they are unique in the Roman World. You will not see their like anywhere else.

We again today shared this major Provence "must visit" town with a limited number of other Autumn tourists. We are finding that this is a great time to visit the Vaucluse region of Provence. The weather is kind - 20 to 23  degrees this last week and it's comfortable eating lunch outside.

Orange is not all Roman relics. The town has a multitude of eating establishments, cafes,  parks, open spaces and sophisticated shopping streets and plenty of  parking areas for the tourists in the Summer. We parked today right in the centre of town for 6 hours for 2 euros.

Outside of the Theatre Antique

The stage of the Theatre Antique

Another view of the stage 

One of "The Cadastes Romains"
 a most important document, 
and  one of only three in the world, all in Orange

Typical restaurant/cafe area in Orange

A sophisticated shopping street in Orange

The 1st century "Arc de Triomphe"