Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange


World Heritage Identification Number: 163

World Heritage since: 1981

Category: Cultural Heritage

WHE Type: Archaeological Sites

Transboundary Heritage: No

Endangered Heritage: No

Country: 🇫🇷 France

Continent: Europe

UNESCO World Region: Europe and North America

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Roman Theatre and Triumphal Arch of Orange: Architectural Marvels in Southern France

The Roman Theatre and its Surroundings, along with the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange, are two remarkable architectural relics that stand as testaments to the grandeur and cultural influence of the Roman Empire. Located in the picturesque Rhone Valley, these structures have been designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.

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UNESCO Description of the World Heritage Site

Situated in the Rhone valley, the ancient theatre of Orange, with its 103-m-long facade, is one of the best preserved of all the great Roman theatres. Built between A.D. 10 and 25, the Roman arch is one of the most beautiful and interesting surviving examples of a provincial triumphal arch from the reign of Augustus. It is decorated with low reliefs commemorating the establishment of the Pax Romana.

Encyclopedia Record: Roman Theatre of Orange

The Roman Theatre of Orange is a Roman theatre in Orange, Vaucluse, France. It was built early in the 1st century AD. The structure is owned by the municipality of Orange and is the home of the summer opera festival, the Chorégies d'Orange.

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Additional Site Details

Area: 9.45 hectares

UNESCO Criteria: (iii) — Unique or exceptional testimony to a cultural tradition
(vi) — Directly associated with events or living traditions

Coordinates: 44.13572222 , 4.808416667

Image

Image of Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange

© Gromelle Grand Angle, CC BY-SA 3.0 Resized from original. (This derivative is under the same CC BY-SA license.)

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France and the World Heritage Convention

State Party since: June 27, 1975

Status: Acceptance

Mandates to the World Heritage Committee: 1976-1978, 1978-1985, 1987-1993, 1993-1999, 2009-2013

Total of Mandate Years: 25

Total of Mandates: 5

WHC Electoral Group: I (Western Europe/North America)

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Last updated: March 18, 2026

Portions of the page Roman Theatre and its Surroundings and the "Triumphal Arch" of Orange are based on data from UNESCO — World Heritage List Dataset and on text from the Wikipedia article Roman Theatre of Orange, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. Changes made. Additional original content by World Heritage Explorer (WHE), licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0. WHE is not affiliated with UNESCO or the World Heritage Committee. Legal Notice. Privacy Policy.

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