Orange is a town in the Vaucluse department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region in southeastern France. It is located about 21 kilometers (13 miles) north of Avignon, near the border with the Gard department. This border follows the Rhône River and also marks the boundary with the Occitania region. Orange is the second-largest city in Vaucluse, after Avignon.

Name

The name comes from an ancient language called Proto-Celtic, which had the word far-aws(y)o-. This means "in front of the ear" in that language. This became the Gaulish word ar-aus(i)o-, which meant "temple" or "cheek." This word is related to the names of other ancient places, such as Arausa, Arausia, Arausona (in Dalmatia), and the nearby Oraison (in Alpes-de-Haute-Provence).

The settlement was known by different names in Latin over time. It was called Arausio in the first century CE, Arausion in the second century, civitas Arausione in the fourth century, civitas Arausicae in 517 (a version influenced by German language called *Arausinga), Aurengia civitatis in 1136, and finally Orenga in 1205.

History

Roman Orange was founded in 35 BC by soldiers from the second legion. The city was originally named Arausio, after a local Celtic water god, or Colonia Julia Firma Secundanorum Arausio in full, meaning "the Julian colony of Arausio established by the soldiers of the second legion." The name had no connection to the orange fruit at first, but later became mixed up with it.

Before the Romans arrived, a Celtic settlement with the same name existed in the same location. A major battle, known as the Battle of Arausio, took place there in 105 BC. This battle involved two Roman armies fighting against the Cimbri and Teutones tribes.

Arausio covered an area of about 70 hectares (170 acres) and had many public buildings. These included a theater, an arch, a large temple area, and a forum.

• Orange in the Table Peutinger
• Roman cadaster of Orange
• The Triumphal Arch of Orange
• The Roman Theatre in Orange

The city was the capital of a large area in northern Provence. This area was divided into plots for Roman settlers. "Orange from 2,000 years ago was a small version of Rome, with many public buildings similar to those in the Roman Empire, but smaller in size to match the smaller population." The city appears on both the Tabula Peutingeriana and Le cadastre d'Orange maps.

The town thrived but was attacked and destroyed by the Visigoths in 412 AD. By that time, most of its people had become Christian. From the end of the third century, the area was part of the Ancient Diocese of Orange. Today, the Catholic Church lists Arausio as a "titular see," meaning it is no longer a place where a bishop lives but is still recognized. The city hosted two important religious meetings, in 441 and 529 AD. The Second Council of Orange was important for rejecting a belief later called Semipelagianism.

In the eighth century, the Carolingian counts of Orange were established. Later, this title passed to the lords of Baux. Starting in the 12th century, Orange became a minor principality, the Principality of Orange, as a fief of the Holy Roman Empire. During this time, the town and principality were part of the Dauphiné region.

In 1544, William the Silent, a noble from the Netherlands, inherited the title Prince of Orange. This made the principality part of the House of Orange-Nassau. This connection led the area to support the Protestant side during the Wars of Religion, and the town suffered damage. In 1568, the Eighty Years' War began, with William leading the fight for independence from Spain. William the Silent was killed in 1584. His son, Maurice of Nassau (who became Prince of Orange after his older brother died in 1618), helped secure Dutch independence with the help of Johan van Oldenbarnevelt. The Dutch Republic eventually became the Netherlands, which is still ruled by the House of Orange-Nassau. William, Prince of Orange, a descendant of William the Silent, later ruled England as William III. The name "Orange" was used for other places influenced by the Dutch, such as the Oranges in New Jersey and the Orange Free State in South Africa. The Hôtel de Ville was once a private home completed in 1671.

The city remained part of different lands controlled by the Nassau family until French forces, led by Louis XIV, captured it multiple times in the late 17th century. France officially took control of Orange in 1713 through the Treaty of Utrecht.

After the French Revolution in 1789, Orange became part of the French department of Drôme, then Bouches-du-Rhône, and finally Vaucluse. However, the title of Prince of Orange remained with the Dutch family.

In 1995, Orange gained international attention when a member of the National Front (FN), Jacques Bompard, was elected mayor. Bompard left the FN in 2005 and later joined the League of the South in 2010.

Until 2014, the French Foreign Legion's armored First Foreign Cavalry Regiment was based in Orange. The regiment moved to Camp de Carpiagne in Marseille in 2014. On January 1, 2017, Orange was transferred from the Avignon arrondissement to the Carpentras arrondissement, along with several neighboring towns.

Demographics

As of 2023, Orange has about 29,706 residents. It is the third largest commune in Vaucluse, following Avignon and Carpentras in population size.

Main sights

The town is famous for its Roman buildings, especially its Roman theatre, which is considered the most impressive example of its kind still found in Europe. The Triumphal Arch's age is unclear, but recent studies support the idea that an inscription on it dates back to the time Emperor Augustus ruled. The arch also has an inscription that honors Emperor Tiberius in AD 27. At that time, the arch was rebuilt to celebrate Germanicus's victories over German tribes in the Rhineland. In 1981, the arch, theatre, and surrounding area were added to the UNESCO World Heritage List.

The Museum displays the largest known (7.56 x 5.90 m) cadastral Roman maps ever discovered. These maps, carved into marble, show the region between Orange, Nîmes, and Montélimar.

Culture

In 1869, the Roman theatre was restored and has hosted a music festival. The festival, named Chorégies d'Orange in 1902, has taken place every year since then and is now well-known as an international opera festival.

In 1971, a new version of the festival called the "New Chorégies" was created and quickly became a famous success worldwide. Many famous opera singers from around the world have performed at the theatre, including Barbara Hendricks, Plácido Domingo, Montserrat Caballé, Roberto Alagna, René Pape, and Inva Mula. Operas such as Tosca, Aida, Faust, and Carmine Karm Conte have been performed there. These productions often feature beautiful and elaborate sets and have received great praise.

The Roman theatre is one of three heritage sites where parts of the Roman wall still exist.

Twin towns – sister cities

Orange is partnered with Breda, Diest, and Dillenburg. These cities form a group called the Union of Orange Cities.

Climate

Orange has a humid subtropical climate (Cfa). This is because there is a lot of rain in the summer, which means it cannot be classified as a Mediterranean climate (Csa). Summers are hot and fairly dry. Most of the rain falls in spring and autumn, when temperatures are gentle. Winters are mild, but sometimes there can be harsh frost and snow. On June 28, 2019, the temperature reached 41.0 °C.