Vienne FranceRoman Theater

Historians believe that Romans built at theater at Vienne sometime around 40 to 50 AD. It was after Autun the largest theater in Gaulle, able to hold up to 13,000 spectators. At the top of the cavea or seating area was a temple dedicated to either Apollon or Bacchus.

Starting in the third century the Roman Theater due to invasion and war lost many of its statues and ornaments and gradually fell to rubble. During the middle ages some parts of the Roman Theater were used as shelter. In the 1930’s the Roman Theater was rediscovered and restoration began. On July 30th 1938 the Roman Theater was reopened with the play “The damnation of Faust.”

Today the Roman Theater in Vienne is home to a yearly Jazz festival held in the summer and open to tourist the rest of the year. Tours are self-guided with some documentation in English.