Tourism in Arles

Seen from the sky, Arles is surprisingly large. Covering 75,000 hectares, it is not only the largest municipality in Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, but also the largest in France. Built where the Rhône delta begins, 35 km from Avignon, the city of the Popes, 75 km from Montpellier and 87 km from Marseille, Arles has preserved its historic heritage. The former residence of Emperor Constantine, whose cultural development was held back by successive invasions, regained its cultural splendour from the 16th century. This artistic revival owes much to the construction of elegant buildings and mansions and, more recently, to the town’s elected officials, who wanted to make it a major cultural centre.

The Roman and Romanesque monuments are the first stop, and by no means the least, on a visit to Arles. If you love history and architecture, you will marvel at the Roman amphitheatre (the Arena), built nearly 2,000 years ago, the Baths of Constantine, the ancient theatre, the forum, Saint-Trophime cathedral and its superb cloister. One of the most impressive sites in this open-air museum is the necropolis (the Alyscamps), painted by Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh in 1888. The old forum has superb details that will catch the eye of the most observant, including beautiful sculptures on some street corners. Stroll through the historic centre of this Provençal Camargue town and admire its many historic monuments.

As well as Roman and Romanesque remains, Arles is home to many interesting monuments such as the church and abbey of Saint-Césaire, the church of La Major, the church of Saint-Julien, the Dominican church, the church of Sainte-Anne and a former priory (the Hospitaller priory) turned into a museum (Musée Réattu). It houses the main works of the town’s painter Jacques Réattu, fine photographs and some drawings by Pablo Picasso.

Strolling through the town centre, you will see the 16th-century mansions: Hôtel Quiqueran de Beaujeu, Hôtel Barrême de Manville, Hôtel Courtois de Langlade, Hôtel Laval Castellane… Don’t forget to visit the Musée départemental de l’Arles antique and its extraordinary sarcophagi.

Lovers of nature, wide open spaces and heritage, make the most of your stay to discover the wonders around Arles and the Camargue.

Explore the region’s magnificent nature reserves: the Camargue National Nature Reserve, the Marais du Vigueirat National Nature Reserve, the Coussouls de Crau National Nature Reserve, the Ilon Regional Nature Reserve and the Tour du Valat Regional Nature Reserve. With flamingos, Camargue horses, bulls and wild landscapes, these sites offer a unique, unspoilt spectacle.

After your outings, treat yourself to a tasty break on a terrace and discover local specialities such as Arles sausage, broufade or gardiane de taureau (bull stew), true flavours of the Camargue.

Immerse yourself in Provençal traditions too by watching a course camarguaise or a bullfight in the famous Arles arena. All year round, the town comes alive with many cultural and festive events:the Easter Feria, the election of the Queen of Arles (every three years, on 1 May), the Rencontres d’Arles, the internationally renowned photography festival, the Festival du Dessin, dedicated to drawing in all its forms, the famous Feria du Riz in September, and many other unmissable events.

Must-sees in Arles

Don’t miss the old town of Arles, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its impressive Roman amphitheatre (the Arena) and its ancient theatre, outstanding remains of the Roman era.

Also discover the town’s many museums: the Musée départemental Arles antique, the Museon Arlaten, the Musée de la Camargue, the Musée du Costume, the Fondation Vincent van Gogh and LUMA Arles, a spectacular contemporary art centre that has become a landmark of the town.

Continue your visit withMontmajour Abbey, founded in 948, or make a detour to the famous Langlois bridge, immortalised by Vincent van Gogh. Enjoy a pleasant walk along the Rhône or watch one of the traditional shows featuring the Camargue bull.

With its exceptional heritage, wild nature, living culture and local traditions, Arles and the Camargue promise you a stay full of discoveries and emotions.

>> http://www.arlestourisme.com/fr/

The Romans left their mark, for longer or shorter periods, on many towns and regions of the world by building infrastructure that is still largely intact: roads, aqueducts and water supply or sewage networks, but also temples, baths and amphitheatres, like the one in Arles. It was built at the end of the 1st century AD, north of the ancient town. Its construction was part of a general plan to extend and embellish the city, including ambitious works such as building baths, raising ramparts and developing residential districts.

The Arles arena has architectural features similar to those of the Colosseum in Rome or the arena in Nîmes, even though the Italian building could hold 50,000 spectators compared with 25,000 for its French counterpart. The idea was probably to build a “little Colosseum” in Arles, and the amphitheatre hosted gladiator fights and hunting scenes until the 5th century.

The amphitheatre survived the fall of the Roman Empire and was turned into a fortress, particularly in the Middle Ages, with the addition of four towers. The building then became a small citadel with its own public square in the centre and two chapels.

Arles lies on the Rhône, in the east of the Bouches-du-Rhône department. The town is one of the must-see destinations for a stay in Provence. It is also a great starting point for discovering other nearby places, especially Les Baux-de-Provence (18.8 km), Saint-Rémy-de-Provence (25 km) or Salon-de-Provence (43.7 km). Your stay is also a wonderful opportunity to discover iconic tourist sites such as the Camargue Regional Nature Park (12.6 km, via the road to Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer) or the Pont de Gau ornithological park (33.8 km).