Vaison-la-Romaine ©

Vaison-la-Romaine © Alain Hocquel, Vaucluse Tourism Roman Arena, still in use, Lyon © Gillian Thornton Several theatres are also still in use, one of the best known being Orange in Provence (Roman Arausio). Regarded as the best preserved in Europe thanks to its high stage wall, the theatre is home to the Chorégies d’Orange, an annual opera and classical music event launched in 1869 and the oldest festival in France. The modern cities of Lyon (Roman Lugdunum) and nearby Vienne (Vienna) in the Rhône Valley are unusual in having twin theatres. The main theatres were used for large productions such as plays and cultural events, whilst the secondary venues hosted poetry readings and small concerts. Summer city break? Buy a ticket for Lyon’s Nuits de Fourvière festival of arts, or the popular Jazz à Vienne. At Autun in Burgundy - Roman Augustodunum - the ancient theatre, built around 70AD, is thought to have been the largest in the Empire, able to accommodate 20,000 spectators. Look out too for the impressive section of city walls complete with round towers, and two of the original four towering gates. Urban Living In settlements around the Rhône Valley, you get a real feel for the layout of Roman towns as you wander amongst the foundations of buildings from everyday life. Across the Rhône from Vienne, St Romain-en-Gal is one of the largest archaeological sites in France from the Gallo-Roman period. Discover the back story at the museum that stands at the heart of a 7-hectare park where 21 st century visitors can walk amongst the remains of thermal baths, workshops and private homes. But the largest site is the ancient city of Vasio Vocontiorum - Vaison-la-Romaine near Avignon. Here the extensive Roman remains are spread across two main sites. At Villasse, discover the main square of the forum and a street lined with shops, as well as a thermal bath complex and grand houses. More wealthy homes stand on the nearby hillside of Puymin, some with mosaics, sculptures and inscriptions, all conveniently close to the theatre and shops. Sometimes however, a little imagination is required. In north-eastern France, in the department of Vosges, the well-preserved amphitheatre at Grand once held up to 17,000 Roman citizens. An intriguing thought for a small town that today numbers barely 400 residents. Monuments and Museums Large buildings such as arenas and theatres usually survived because they remained in use after the Roman Empire collapsed. The Vienne forum temple dedicated to Augustus and Livia was begun around 20BC and later transformed into a church. Even better preserved is the monumental Maison Carré in Nîmes (Nemausus), listed by UNESCO as one of the earliest examples of a Roman temple connected to imperial worship in the provinces of Rome. Visit the city’s vast amphitheatre and opposite, the Musée de la Romanité which brings Roman times vividly to life through interactive multimedia devices. Don’t miss the 360° view from the rooftop. Then there is the extraordinary Pont du Gard, a lofty limestone bridge with three tiers of perfectly symmetrical arches that span the Roman Amphitheatre, Grand, Vosges © Gillian Thornton Maison Carré, Nîmes 48 | The Good Life France The Good Life France | 49