Roman Theater

Just a stone’s throw from the amphitheater lies the Roman theater! Not nearly as well preserved as its neighbor. Well okay, it’s a century older, but then again, at their age, who’s counting the decades? It was built at the end of the first century BC, making it one of the earliest Roman stone theaters. Now, you’ll have to use your imagination, but just look at the stage in the middle. It used to be enclosed by backstage areas and was richly decorated with columns and statues. This is where the famous Venus of Arles was found, now on display at the Louvre. Some 10,000 spectators once sat in these tiers. This was no place for gladiatorial combats or Roman circus games. They’d come to the theater to watch theater. Actors would stage tragedies, comedies and pantomimes. And the best part? Admission was free! See the big defensive tower? That’s Roland’s tower, built in the Middle Ages. It hints at the height of the original façade, which was 3 storeys high. Over time, the theater became a handy source of stone for neighboring construction sites, and eventually fell into neglect. It wasn’t until 1828 that archaeological excavations dug it up again. In 1840, the ever-present Prosper Mérimée listed it as a historical monument and, once again, UNESCO followed suit. The theater has been on the World Heritage List since 1981. However, it wasn’t really restored until 2005, as part of the Plan Patrimoine Antique, aka an Ancient Heritage management and maintenance Plan. Today, the theater once again hosts performances, but unlike back then, you have to pay to get in 🙂