Orange is a small Provencal city with two extraordinary Roman monuments. The Théâtre Antique is the only Roman theatre in Europe with its original stage wall still intact — a massive stone facade that looms over the audience. In summer it hosts the Chorégies d'Orange, one of France's oldest music festivals. The Arc de Triomphe, on the northern edge of town, is a triple-arched monument celebrating Caesar's victories. Together the two are inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Between the two landmarks, the old centre is a quiet grid of narrow streets, restored facades, and shady squares — the Place de la République, the Place aux Herbes, the small Romanesque cathedral. It feels more like a large village than a city, which is part of the charm. Climb the wooded Colline Saint-Eutrope behind the theatre for a view across to Mont Ventoux. Orange makes a natural stop between Avignon and the northern Rhone valley.