In Provence, the Romans Were Everywhere

One of the best-preserved Roman theatres anywhere in Europe is in the town of Orange, in the Provence region of France. Orange was a Roman colony in the first century B.C., around the height of the Roman empire, and a huge piece of evidence of that is the amphitheatre, called Theatre d’Orange. It’s one of several UNESCO World Heritage Sites we have visited on this Penn State Alumni Association trip. The amphitheatre is huge -- the stage and the stone wall behind it are both enormous -- and, in case you have any doubts about the origins of the place, the wall includes a bust of Augustus Caesar. The fact that the wall has lasted 2,000 years is pretty amazing. The theatre is still used today -- there’s an opera festival there every summer, among other events.

Also in Orange is an Arc de Triomphe, or triumphal arch, which the Romans built over a five-year period, from 22 to 27 A.D. (I would love to know how historians can narrow such things down to the exact year.) The arch commemorates the conquering of Gaul about 100 years earlier; the Romans had a way of erecting huge monuments to let you know exactly who was in control. The arch is ornately decorated with images reflecting war themes. Today it’s in the middle of a traffic roundabout or rotary, so as you admire it, the cars and motor scooters are whizzing by all around you.

An ancient Roman necropolis, or cemetery, has also been found near Orange.

After we visited Orange, we paid a visit to another UNESCO World Heritage site, and one of France’s top five tourist sites: Pont du Gard. By now I have figured out that “pont” means bridge, and sure enough, Pont du Gard is so named because it serves as a bridge over the river Gardon. Pont du Gard was an aqueduct, originally 30 miles long, and was designed to channel water from springs in the mountains to the town of Nimes, where it provided water to fountains, public baths, and even houses. The Romans were unbelievably advanced -- historians and engineers marvel today at the fact that some houses in ancient Rome had running water, considering that it wouldn’t be until the 19th century, almost 2,000 years later, before other societies would figure out how to do that.

Coming up in the next dispatch: Wandering the markets of the lovely town of Isle-sur-la-Sorgue.

Photos

This immense and extremely well-preserved theatre in the town of Orange is still used today, for concerts ranging from opera to rock.

This museum is across from Theatre Antique d’Orange, the ancient Roman theatre in the town of Orange. We didn’t visit the museum, but it was so beautiful we couldn’t help taking pictures of it.

One of the most visited sites in the south of France is the ancient Roman aqueduct Pont du Gard; Built 2,000 years ago, it represented extremely advanced engineering know-how and once extended 30 miles.

Penn State travelers Jerry and Jackie Grossman at the ancient Roman Arc de Triomphe in Orange, France.

Penn Staters Jerry and Joady Gorelick at Pont du Gard, an ancient Roman aqueduct over the Gardon River. Two thousand years ago it supplied water to the town of Nimes; today it's a UNESCO World Heritage site.