Roman Theatre of Vienne

Tickets and tours: which to book

Nothing for the theatre alone is sold online, and there is no need to book a daytime visit. Tickets are sold at the entrance, and the theatre is part of a group of monuments and museums run by the city of Vienne. A city pass gives entry to several of them, including the theatre, the archaeological collections and other museums, and is valid for a few days, so it is the best value if you plan to see more than one site.

The theatre is also a concert venue. During the Jazz a Vienne festival, from late June to mid-July, evening concerts are held in the theatre, and tickets must be bought in advance from the festival. The theatre may close to daytime visitors on some days while stages are set up, so check before you go.

The Vienne tourist office runs guided tours of the Roman town in season, which include the theatre, the Temple of Augustus and Livia and the Cybele garden. Day trips from Lyon by train are easy and cheap. For most visitors the sensible plan is the city pass, the theatre in the morning and the Gallo-Roman museum at Saint-Romain-en-Gal in the afternoon.

A short history

Vienne was the chief town of the Allobroges and became an important Roman colony in Gaul. The theatre was built in the 1st century AD on the slope of Mont Pipet, probably around the reign of Claudius, and could hold around 13,000 spectators. It was used for plays and festivals until the late Roman period, then abandoned and buried under houses and gardens. Its remains were rediscovered in the early 20th century, and excavations began in 1922. The architect Jules Formige led the clearing and restoration until 1938, rebuilding part of the seating. It is a classified historic monument and has been the main stage of the Jazz a Vienne festival since the 1980s.

Getting there

Vienne is about 30 km south of Lyon on the Rhone. Trains from Lyon Part-Dieu and Perrache take about 20 to 30 minutes and run frequently. From Vienne station, walk north through the old town to the theatre, about 10 minutes uphill. By car, use the car parks near the river or the old town, as parking near the theatre is limited. Lyon Saint-Exupery airport is about 45 minutes away by car. Regional buses also link Vienne with surrounding towns and villages.

Rules and what to bring

Do not climb on walls outside the seating, and take care on the steep steps, which can be slippery after rain. Drones are not allowed. Bring water, a hat and sun cream in summer, as there is little shade in the cavea. There are no cafes inside, but the old town is a few minutes away. During concerts, festival rules on bags and seating apply.

When to go

The theatre is rarely crowded outside the festival season. School groups visit on weekday mornings during term, and day visitors from Lyon come at weekends. Mornings are quiet and cool, while late afternoon light falls on the seating and gives good photographs.

The best months are April to June and September, when the weather is mild. July is festival time: Jazz a Vienne fills the theatre with evening concerts, and the town is lively, but daytime visits may be limited. August can be hot, often over 30 degrees, and the seating has no shade, so go early. Winter is quiet, with shorter hours and Monday closures. Allow about an hour for the theatre, and a full day for the other Roman sites of Vienne.