Orange

The Gagnons decided to visit Orange, in part because of Mario's great interest (some would say obsession) in Roman history.

The first monument visited was the Arc of Triumph, dated from the early 1st Century, and celebrating Caesar's victory against the Gauls. That's obviously not counting the continuous resistance led by Asterix and Obelix.

The arc has some beautifully preserved carvings of various military themes. It has survived to this day in part because it was not mined for stones during the Middle-Ages, but rather incorporated into the defensive wall protecting the city. It has since undergone important restorations. It is interesting to see how it has served as a model for numerous other arches in France, including the Arc du Carrousel and the Arc de Triomphe in Paris.

The other very important monument in Orange is the Roman theater. It was partially mined for stones and was also buried under a shanty town, but was dug out and successively restored over the last few centuries. It is still used today for theater and lyrical performances. In fact, during our visit, some features were hidden by stage props for the evening performance. The stage wall is the largest one remaining from the Antiquity, and greatly contributes to the quality of the acoustics. It is part of a vast complex of Roman buildings found in central Orange.

There was also a more modern theatre - from the Renaissance.

All in all, a fascinating visit through history...