Orange

Orange is a city in Provence founded by veterans of Rome's second legion in 35 B.C.

The Triumphal Arch of Orange was built during the reign of Augustus to honor veterans of the Gallic Wars, and later modified by Tiberius to celebrate Germanicus' victories in the Rhineland. 

Orange later became a Principality of the Holy Roman Empire. The territory passed into the hands of the Counts of Nassau in Germany, who in turn became Stadtholders in the Low Countries. The House of Orange-Nassau still rules the Netherlands today; mercifully, after numerous occupations, France annexed Orange in 1713, though the Dutch retained the title.

The Roman Theater of Orange was built in the 1st century A.D.

The theater fell into disrepair after the Catholic Church issued an edict in 391 closing it.

After being pillaged be the Visigoths in the following century, it was used as a fortification, shelter, and stage for religious plays.

The theater was restored by France in the 1800s, and is still in use today.

 

Lyon

Lyon is France's third largest city and was the capital of Roman Gaul.

Lyon Cathedral has stained glass windows from the 13th century, including the window of good and bad angels. 

The treasury has artifacts from the Byzantine Empire, and Limoges enamel.

Jesus doesn't look too happy in this one.

The Basilica of Notre-Dame de Fourviere overlooks the city.

The basilica is dedicated to the Virgin May, credited for saving Lyon from Prussian occupation during the Franco-Prussian War.

There are great views of Lyon from the basilica.

Including of Lyon Cathedral

The inside of the basilica is spectacular. 

A mosaic of the Battle of Lepanto

The crypt

A short walk away from the basilica are the ruins of Roman Lugdunum.

The city was originally built at the confluence of the Saone and Rhone rivers on a high point to protect Roman refugees during the Roman Republic's war against the Gauls.

A bronze age processional chariot from around 700 B.C. used to worship the sun.

Emperors Claudius and Caracalla were born in Lyon. This plaque of a speech by Claudius advocating for Roman rights for citizens of Gaul was found in Lyon.

Sling ammunition - some projectiles bear abuse directed at the enemy.

You can recognize the Gallic God Sucellus by his mallet, jar, and dog.

This mysterious object has been found all over the Roman Empire.

The Ancient Theatre of Fourviere

Drunk Hercules, a great Greco-Roman motif

This mosaic of the circus shows how laps were counted with fountains.

Wild hogs

Sculptures mounted to the top of Roman cemetery walls to repel evil spirits.

The Odeon of Lyon

Lyon is also home to great food. Make sure you grab a beer at Brasserie Georges!

 

Dijon

 

Dijon is the historic capital of Burgundy.

Notre-Dame of Dijon is the church for you if you like gargoyles.

The church was built in the 13th century, and restoration is ongoing. 

Spooky

The stained glass windows are also from the 13th century; some of the originals still exist.

The lucky owl on the side of the church is one of Dijon's main symbols.

Many half-timbered houses with colorful tile roofs still line the streets.

The Ducal Palace houses the Musee des Beaux-Arts de Dijon.

A slightly off-putting well

Fancy containers from the 13th century

An impressive reliquary

Limoges enamel

An Altarpiece of Saint Margaret from 1480

Altarpiece of Emperor Augustus and the Sibyl of Tibur from 1435

Altarpice of the Magi from 1475

Lands ruled by the Duke of Burgundy before Charles the Bold's death in 1477

Charles the Bold on the right with his parents Philip the Good and Isabella of Portugal

A 14th century altarpiece from Ypres

The funerary crown of Philip the Bold, founder of the Burgundian branch of the House of Valois

The tombs of Philip the Bold, John the Fearless, and Margaret of Bavaria

The Dukes of Burgundy were originally buried outside Dijon at a monastery called Chartreuse de Champol, which was destroyed during the French Revolution. Works of art from the monastery have been scattered throughout the world's museums. One of the few left in Dijon is the Well of Moses, which includes a depiction of Moses with horns.

In 1513, after Charles the Bold's failed attempt to conquer Lorraine and subdue the Swiss, armies from Switzerland and the Holy Roman Empire failed to conquer Dijon during the War of the League of Cambrai.

The morning star really seems unusable.

Zweihanders

Detailed powder flasks

Limoges porcelain from the 16th century portraying Roman Emperors

Moo

The Church of Saint Michael (left) was built in the 16th century.

It's entrance is well maintained.

The church next to Saint Michael's houses a museum of sculpture by Francois Rude.

The Archeology Museum of Dijon, housed next to the Cathedral of Saint Benignus, has some interesting pieces, including this bronze jewelry found near Dijon that resembles large quantities of other jewelry found in the Carpathian mountains. 

Fibulae

Saint Benignus had a rough life.

Boo!

The Order of the Porcupine was founded by Louis I, Duke of Orleans as a rival order to the Order of the Golden Fleece, founded by the Duke of Burgundy. The conflict between these two cadet branches of the Valois family was a main reason for French instability during the Hundred Years' War.

Sequana, Gallo-Roman goddess of the river Seine, who's source is near Dijon.

Church crypts make great lapidariums.

France may have the best burgers in the world. And you can't get foie gras burgers in California.

Great wine, strange name

Dijon captures all of France's charms.