Built under the reign of Augustus in the first century AD, the Théâtre Antique d'Orange survived the centuries because it was repurposed as fortified housing in the Middle Ages — its stones never quarried, its great stage wall left intact. Today it is the only Roman theatre in Europe whose scaenae frons still stands at almost its original height, a vast screen of pierced niches, columns, and the central niche with its restored statue of Augustus, raised above the orchestra.
The auditorium seats around 9,000 on stone tiers carved into the Colline Saint-Eutrope. Acoustic tests have shown the original design still works — a whisper from the stage carries clearly to the top row. The site is inscribed on UNESCO's World Heritage List together with the Arc de Triomphe. The audioguide is good and includes a 3D reconstruction. Tickets also include entry to the small Musée d'Art et d'Histoire across the square.