Orange Roman City Private Walking Tour
A private walking tour of Orange, the Roman city of Provence, with Sophie, your licensed guide: the Roman Theatre, the Triumphal Arch and the town, in two or three hours.
Step back into the grandeur of the Roman Empire. This visit focuses on the heavy historical past of Orange, from the Roman times until the Princes of Orange.
You'll be seeing the Roman Theatre of Orange, which is the best kept one in the whole western world, and the majestic Roman Arch. If you visit on a Thursday, we can also include a stroll through the vibrant weekly food market where locals shop for fresh seasonal products.
In two hours, we walk through the town to the Roman Theatre and the Triumphal Arch. For the third hour, you choose between three options: the market (on Thursdays), the museum, or an unusual visit of Orange; the three-hour tour also includes Notre-Dame Cathedral.
We can go inside the Roman Theatre: the entrance tickets are paid by you (not Sophie's own entry), and the theatre ticket also includes the museum.
What You'll See in Orange
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The Roman Theatre
UNESCO World Heritage · early 1st century AD
Built under the emperor Augustus early in the 1st century AD, the theatre served the Roman colony of Arausio, founded by veterans of the second legion. It is one of the best preserved of all Roman theatres, and its great stage wall still stands: 103 metres long and 37 metres high.
Shows were open to all and free of charge: mime, pantomime, poetry readings and farces, sometimes lasting all day. Restored to its first use, the theatre now hosts the Chorégies d'Orange, a summer opera festival. It was inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List in 1981.
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The Triumphal Arch
UNESCO World Heritage · reign of Augustus
Standing on the former Via Agrippa, the arch honoured the veterans of the Gallic Wars and the Second Legion, and carries a dedication to the emperor Tiberius in AD 27. Its three arches, its Corinthian columns and its reliefs of naval battles and of Romans fighting Gauls and Germans make it the oldest surviving example of a design later used in Rome itself, for the arches of Septimius Severus and Constantine.
In the Middle Ages, it was built into the town walls to guard the northern entrance of Orange.
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From Rome to the Princes of Orange
1163 – 1713
Raised to a principality in 1163 by the emperor Frederick Barbarossa, Orange passed in 1544 to William of Nassau, known as William the Silent, who led the Dutch revolt against Spain. This is why the Dutch royal family is still the House of Orange-Nassau.
The little principality remained in their hands until it was ceded to France in 1713, under the Treaty of Utrecht.
The Experience
Sophie's Reels
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The Triumphal Arch of Orange
Watch on Instagram: The Triumphal Arch of Orange -
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The Roman Theatre of Orange
Watch on Instagram: The Roman Theatre of Orange
Meeting Point
Your hotel in Orange or the Roman Theatre entrance
Best Season
Year-round (Market on Thursdays)
Languages
English & French
Sophie, Born in Provence
Sophie was born in Provence, in the black truffle and Grignan-les-Adhémar region. She started Travel In Provence in 2016 as a wine tour guide, then became a licensed history guide. She holds the WSET (2016) and the French Wine Scholar (2021, Wine University of Suze-la-Rousse), and is featured in Rick Steves' Provence & the French Riviera guidebook (2023 edition onward).
Food, wine and history are her passions: her tours mix off-the-beaten-track places with the must-sees that cannot be missed.
More about Sophie →Good to Know
How long does the tour last?
2 - 3 hours.
Is the tour private, and for how many people?
Yes: every tour is private and tailored to your group. This one is for up to 10 people.
Where do we meet?
Your hotel in Orange or the Roman Theatre entrance.
Can Sophie pick us up anywhere?
This is a walking tour, so Sophie meets you at your hotel in Orange or the Roman Theatre entrance.
How much walking is there?
The tours are not recommended for young children or for people with reduced mobility: expect stairs and some difficult paths, and the level depends on the tour.
How do we pay?
By bank transfer one month in advance, or on the day.
How much does it cost?
2 hours: 200 € · 3 hours, with a third hour: 300 €, per group.
What is the difference between two and three hours?
In two hours, we walk through the town to the Roman Theatre and the Triumphal Arch. For the third hour, you choose between three options: the Thursday market, the museum, or an unusual visit of Orange; the three-hour tour also includes Notre-Dame Cathedral.
Do we go inside the Roman Theatre?
Yes. Entrance tickets are paid by you (not Sophie's own entry), and the theatre ticket also gives access to the museum.
Can we visit the market?
Yes, if you visit on a Thursday: the tour can then include a stroll through the weekly food market, where locals shop for fresh seasonal products.
What is not included in the price?
Entrance tickets to the Roman Theatre · Personal purchases at the market.
When is the best time to go?
Year-round (Market on Thursdays).
Which languages does Sophie speak?
English and French.
How do I book?
Write to Sophie or call her: her email and phone number are on the Prices & Reservation page, with the price of every tour.
Ready to Experience Orange Roman City Private Walking Tour?
Every tour is private and tailored to your group.
Get in Touch with Sophie →
