Roman Theatre

Historic site and monument

Rue du Cirque
38200 Vienne

It was built between 40 and 50 AD around the Pipet hill. The theatre is considered as one of the most important in the Roman period.

The terraced seating in the Roman Theatre was built against the steep slopes of the Pipet hill. Its capacity for around 13,000 spectators made the Vienne theatre one of the biggest urban theatres in the Roman Empire and the second largest in Gaul after the theatre in Autun. In the 2nd century, the Odeon, a second, smaller theatre was built nearby on the southern slope of the Saint-Marcel ravine.

Its layout and general organisation followed the Latin models for a stone theatre, even though its location on the hillside gave rise to some specific features. Spectators could move through the rounded, arched galleries that formed the structural support for the terraced seating in the cavea.

Theatres were an expression of the civic and sacred community in the Roman world. They were not only used for entertainment (comedies, tragedies, pantomimes, various kinds of acts, dancing, combats), but could also be the venue for civic or official events.

After restoration work to the theatre, the summer programme now features events reviving the theatre's entertainment role: opera, pop, dance and, since 1981, the Jazz à Vienne Festival in the first half of July.

En pratique

Services

Shop,
Guided tours

Thème

Historic patrimony,
Archeological site

Horaires

Du 01/09/24 au 31/10/24

Lundi :

Fermé
Mardi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Mercredi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Jeudi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Vendredi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Samedi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Dimanche :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00

Du 01/04/25 au 31/08/25

Lundi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Mardi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Mercredi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Jeudi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Vendredi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Samedi :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00
Dimanche :

09h30 à 12h45
- 13h30 à 18h00

Tarifs

Modes de paiement

Check,
Bank/credit card,
Cash

Du 01/09/24 au 31/08/25

Full price: 3€
Reduced price (étudiants, -25 ans, +65 ans, groupes +15 personnes): 2€

Billet Passe (musées + théâtre antique)
– tarif normal : 6€
– tarif réduit : 4€ (étudiants, groupes +15 personnes)

Billet inter-musées (musées et site de Vienne et St-Romain-en-Gal) : 8€

Gratuité : pour tous le premier dimanche de chaque mois
– visiteurs de moins de 18 ans
– groupes scolaires et accompagnateurs
– chômeurs, bénéficiaires du RSA, bénéficiaires du minimum vieillesse
– ICOM, conservateurs du patrimoine, architectes MH