Roman Forum

The ruins you see before you, protected by a railing and surrounded by a wooden walkway for better viewing, are all that remains of the ancient Roman Forum. Its construction most likely dates back to the 1st century BC, coinciding with the Roman colonization of the city, then known as Arausio. The Forum was the ultimate hub of the city, standing at the very heart of its political, economic, social and religious life. Try to imagine a public space, open to all, featuring government buildings, temples, fountains and various stores, and crossed by a paved Roman road. What you see here is only a tiny fraction; the rest lies buried right beneath Orange. Archaeological excavations in the 1920s revealed that the site was once home to no less than a Roman basilica, a temple and a curia. The Curia was a public building where citizens gathered to discuss public affairs, propose projects, take initiatives or represent their interests. The Forum is believed to have been 24 meters wide and 35 meters long, surrounded by a semi-circular portico with 52 columns. Staircases at the rear of the temple provided access to an adjacent temple, as well as to the Capitol, built on the Saint-Eutrope hill.