"The finest wall in my kingdom"

The most striking feature of the theatre at Orange is the stage wall. Originally it would have been covered with marble slabs and decorated with bas-reliefs, carved friezes, statues in niches and columns. Their purpose was not purely decorative as the projections and cavities in the wall would have helped to eliminate the problem of echoes. The central Royal Door was reserved for the principal actors to make their entrances and exits.

La fierté de Louis XIV

“The finest wall in my kingdom” were the words used by King Louis XIV about the monumental exterior wall, or "postscaenium", 103 metres wide and 37 metres high. It is pierced by openings on the stage wall as well as by the Royal Door and side doors. At the very top can be seen the attachments for the "velum" that was stretched over the tiered seats.