Orange

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Orange is a town and commune in the département of Vaucluse, north of Avignon and Arles on the Rhone River. The abundent Roman ruins are some of the finest in the world (e.g. Théâtre and the Arch). Roman Orange was established (35BC) by retirees of the Second Gallica Roman legion or Colonia Julia Firma Secundanorum Arausio in full. A previous Celtic settlement with the same short-name existed in the same place (Arausio (after the local Celtic river spirit)). A major battle, which is generally known as the Battle of Arausio, had been fought in 105 BC between two Roman armies and the Cimbri and Teutones tribes. The town prospered, though it was sacked by the Visigoths in 412. It became a bishopric in the 4th century, and the hill fort of the Celtic Cavares was renamed for Saint Eutrope, the first bishop. The Diocese of Orange persisted until the French Revolution, and was formally suppressed in 1801.