Orange, Roman Arausio, was inhabited from Neolithic times. Like Arles, it was colonized by Greeks from Massalia (Marseille) in the sixth century B.C. and became a Roman colony after the conquest of Massalia in 49 B.C. It was situated along a great trade route through the Rhône Valley and prospered until the barbarian invasions of the fifth century.
The two best-known and best-preserved Roman monuments in Orange are the Triumphal Arch at the outskirts of town, and the theater in the center of town. There is also a nice small museum opposite the theater, housing some of the finds from Orange and the surrounding area. The Theater and the Arch are both on the UNESCO World Heritage list.
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