Roman Theatre of Orange facts for kids
| UNESCO World Heritage Site | |
|---|---|
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| Location | Orange, Vaucluse, France |
| Part of | Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange |
| Criteria | Cultural: (iii), (iv) |
| Inscription | 1981 (5th Session) |
| Extensions | 2007 |
| Area | 9.41 ha (23.3 acres) |
| Buffer zone | 116 ha (290 acres) |
The Roman Theatre of Orange is an ancient Roman theatre located in Orange, Vaucluse, France. It was built around the early 1st century AD. This amazing old building is owned by the local government of Orange. Today, it is famous for hosting the Chorégies d'Orange, a big summer opera festival.
This theatre is one of the best-preserved Roman theatres in the world. It was built for the Roman city of Arausio, which was founded in 40 BC. The theatre was a very important part of daily life for the people living there. Romans spent a lot of their free time watching shows. The Roman leaders saw theatres as a way to share Roman culture. They also used them to keep people entertained and less focused on politics.
Many types of shows were popular, like mime, pantomime, and poetry readings. There was also a funny type of play called "attelana," similar to commedia dell'arte. These shows often lasted all day! People loved special effects and grand stage designs. The shows were open to everyone and were free to watch.
Today, the theatre is used again for its original purpose, mainly for opera. It is also a popular place for tourists to visit. In 1981, the Roman Theatre was added to the UNESCO World Heritage List. This means it is recognized as a very important historical and architectural site.
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Building the Roman Theatre
Early Roman theatres were often made of wood and were not meant to last. But in 55 BC, a Roman leader named Pompey built a stone theatre in Rome. After that, large and permanent stone theatres became popular. The Orange theatre was built when Augustus was emperor. It was one of the first stone theatres in what is now France.
One of the most striking parts of this theatre is its huge outer wall. This wall is about 103 meters (338 feet) long and 37 meters (121 feet) high. Originally, there was a wooden roof over the theatre. This roof protected the audience from bad weather. Evidence on the walls shows that the roof was once destroyed by fire. Even though the wall has little decoration, it makes the building look very powerful. The three main doors on the first level of this wall lead directly to the stage. The theatre could hold between 5,800 and 7,300 people. Today, much of the seating has been rebuilt to keep visitors safe.
The stage is 61 meters (200 feet) long and about one meter (3 feet) off the ground. Behind the stage is a 37-meter (121-foot) high wall. This wall is very important because it helped sound reach the large audience. This wall is called the scaenae frons. It was the only part of the theatre with a lot of decoration. It used to have colorful marble designs, many columns, and statues in special niches. The middle niche holds a 3.5-meter (11.5-foot) tall statue of Emperor Augustus. This statue might have replaced an older one of Apollo, the god of music and arts.
The main door below this statue is called the Royal Door. Only the most important actors used this door to enter and leave the stage. Above the door, there was once a carved design (a frieze) showing centaurs. This frieze is no longer there, but some pieces are in the Orange Museum. Today, a modern platform covers the stage for performances.
Why the Theatre Fell Apart
As the Western Roman Empire became weaker in the 4th century, Christianity became the official religion. The theatre was officially closed in AD 391. The Church at that time did not approve of the shows. It was probably attacked by the Visigoths in 412. Like many Roman buildings, its stones were taken over hundreds of years to build other things.
In the early Middle Ages, it was used as a defensive fort. By the 12th century, the Church used it for religious plays. During the religious wars in the 16th century, it became a safe place for people when the town was attacked. Many people left Orange during this time.
Bringing the Theatre Back to Life
Work to rebuild the theatre started in 1825. The goal was to use it again for big, exciting performances. In 1869, while still being restored, the theatre hosted "The Roman Festivals." More than 10,000 guests came to these events. A very important part of the restoration happened in the 1930s. Workers dug up the area around the theatre and removed nearby buildings. This work found many historical objects and artifacts. These discoveries helped us learn more about the theatre's history.
Today, all three levels of seating have been fully restored. Many staircases, parts of the floor, the stage, and parts of the walls have also been fixed.
In the 19th century, the theatre slowly started to look grand again. This was thanks to Prosper Mérimée, who was in charge of "Monuments Historiques." Under his guidance, restoration work began in 1825. In 1869, the theatre became home to a "Roman Festival." This festival celebrated the glory of Rome and included an opera by Méhul called Joseph. Later in the century, famous French actors like Sarah Bernhardt performed there.
By the end of the 19th century, the tiered seats were restored. In 1902, the festival got a new name: the "Chorégies." It was planned as an annual summer festival. The name comes from a tax that wealthy Romans paid for theatre shows. Until 1969, the Chorégies included plays, music, opera, and symphonies. After that year, Orange became only an opera festival. Plays were then performed in Avignon.
The Theatre Today
The Théâtre d'Orange is thought to be the best-preserved Roman theatre in all of Europe. It is managed by Culturespaces. This group also manages other cultural sites nearby, like the Orange Museum and the Triumphal Arch. Because of these efforts, the theatre is not just a historical site. It is also a place for concerts and performances.
The first big festival held in the theatre after restoration began was "The Roman Festival" in 1869. This festival grew into the annual Chorégies. These events, which use sound and light, attract thousands of visitors from all over the world.
During the rest of the year, the Théâtre d'Orange is a major tourist spot. Visitors can walk through the main theatre, its rooms, and corridors. They can listen to an audio guide that explains everything.
In 1981, UNESCO named the theatre a World Heritage Site.
Gallery
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Seating in the theatre -
The centaur frieze -
The new stage roof -
Roman Theatre with new stage roof -
The French Foreign Legion celebrating Camerone Day in the Roman Theatre of Orange
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Seating and stage, with roof under restoration, 2005
See also
In Spanish: Teatro romano de Orange para niños
- List of Roman theatres
- List of opera festivals
