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| Theatre | |
| Reopened to the public after 16 years of restoration!
The Roman theatre in Augst is the best-preserved ancient complex north of the Alps. After years of restoration work, 2007 is the year of the big reopening. The Cantonal Parliament - the legislative body of the Basle region - will sit here on 2nd July. The opening festivities will be held here in mid August, and on the weekend of 25th/26th August the most spectacular Roman festival ever seen in Augusta Raurica will take place here. |
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| See also: Detailed dokumentation: The theatre of Augusta Raurica Programme of events in the theatre of Augusta Raurica Theatre workshop for schools Theatre restoration 1991-2007 Theatre projekt of the Ettingen (G) Grammar School | ||
Today: |
In Roman times: | |
| The prominent theatre in the centre of the town was converted several times. During its ever-changing construction history, it was used sometimes as a 'playhouse', but
sometimes also as an amphitheatre for gladiatorial combat. It was not until AD 200 that the inhabitants of the town could afford to have both types of theatre at the same time: the scenic theatre here in the centre of the town and the amphitheatre at the southwestern periphery. The scenic theatre of Augusta Raurica is the best-preserved ancient complex of its kind north of the Alps. Large parts of it were excavated as far back as 150 years ago and the ruins have been restored time and again over the past 100 years. In the 1990s it again became apparent that the walls were in a particularly appalling state and an elaborate restoration campaign was launched (see theatre restoration). Permeating water, the use of incorrect materials and restoration techniques by our predecessors, and a vast amount of frost damage made it necessary to rebuild large sections that had been restored previously. | ||
Foundations of the theatre below the snack bar |
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| Reopening in 2007 After many years of restoration work, 2007 is the year of the big reopening. What you see today in a restored state is the third theatre built on this site, a scenic theatre for plays, which was constructed around AD 200 (as opposed to the amphitheatre for gladiatorial combat and animal fights). | ||
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