Arles Attractions
The ancient town of Arles lies on the Rhône south of the point where the river divides into two arms - the Grand Rhône to the east and the Petit Rhône to the west - and flows through the Camargue, with its ponds and lakes, before entering the Mediterranean.
Impressive Roman and medieval historical monuments serve as a reminder of its great past.
Arlath (the "town in the marsh") was originally a Greek settlement, from 46 B.C. a Roman colony and competed with Massilia (Marseilles) as a port. Quite early in its history it had a Christian community and was the venue in 314 for the first Council of the Roman Empire in the West. In 406 the city was the seat of the Roman Civil Government for the whole of Gaul. From the 10th century it belonged to the Kingdom of Burgundy (Arelate) and later to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1481 it and Provence fell to France.
The painter van Gogh resided here in 1888-89; the famous "Bridge of Arles" in his picture no longer exists, and Arles possesses none of his works.
Today Arles extends over 750sq.km/290sq.mi and in area is the largest commune in France, Paris being only 105sq.km/41sq.mi.
The beauty of the maidens of Arles was immortalized by Georges Bizet in his two-part concert suite "L'Arlésienne", from the music written in 1872 for the drama of the same name by Alphonse Daudet.
Impressive Roman and medieval historical monuments serve as a reminder of its great past.
Arlath (the "town in the marsh") was originally a Greek settlement, from 46 B.C. a Roman colony and competed with Massilia (Marseilles) as a port. Quite early in its history it had a Christian community and was the venue in 314 for the first Council of the Roman Empire in the West. In 406 the city was the seat of the Roman Civil Government for the whole of Gaul. From the 10th century it belonged to the Kingdom of Burgundy (Arelate) and later to the Holy Roman Empire. In 1481 it and Provence fell to France.
The painter van Gogh resided here in 1888-89; the famous "Bridge of Arles" in his picture no longer exists, and Arles possesses none of his works.
Today Arles extends over 750sq.km/290sq.mi and in area is the largest commune in France, Paris being only 105sq.km/41sq.mi.
The beauty of the maidens of Arles was immortalized by Georges Bizet in his two-part concert suite "L'Arlésienne", from the music written in 1872 for the drama of the same name by Alphonse Daudet.
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Alyscamps
The Alyscamps was a burial place from Roman times, so important that people traveled great distance to bring their dead here to be buried.
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Arènes Amphitheatre
The Arènes Amphitheatre dates to the 1st C A.D. and is one of the great Roman monuments of Arles.
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Museum of Arles
The Museum of Arles, housed in the Palais de Laval-Castellane, contains what is perhaps the finest collection of Provençal folk art.
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Musée Réattu
Musée Réattu began with a collection of the painter Réattu and expanded to include various Provençal artists, along with contemporary pieces by such artists as Picasso.
Arles Forum
The Forum, the market and meeting-place of the Roman town, was situated on the south side of the present-day Place du Forum. The best-preserved part is known as the "Cryptoporticus" (crypto doorway ca. 40 B.C.), a horseshoe-shaped loggia 89m/97yd by 59m/65yd in extent, built probably to compensate for the slope of the site. Entrance is from the Musée d'Art Chrétien.
Espace Van-Gogh
The Dutch painter Vincent van Gogh (1853- 90) spent 15 productive months in Arles in 1888-89. The artist - together with Cézanne and Gauguin one of the main pioneers of modern painting - lived in this former hospital for a time, and included it in several of his paintings. The 16th C. building has been made into a cultural center and equipped as a "School of Books".
Fête des Gardians
This annual May Day festival begins with a parade of guardians - men of the Camargue who herd wild horses. Other folk customs, music and traditions are also showcased during the festival.
Museum of Pagan Art
In Arles, the Musée d'Art Paën (Museum of Pagan Art) or Musée Lapidaire (lapidarium) is located opposite St Trophime in the former Church of Ste Anne (1630). It exhibits works of the Roman Age and especially of Hellenism. Most of the exhibits come from the Roman theater, the former Forum and other ancient buildings in Arles.
Place de la République
The Place de la République in Arles has an Egyptian obelisk 15m/50ft high. It was found in the amphitheater and erected here in 1676.
On the north side of the square stands the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) built in 1673-75. Its bell-tower dates from 1553 and came from the building which previously stood on the site.
On the north side of the square stands the Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall) built in 1673-75. Its bell-tower dates from 1553 and came from the building which previously stood on the site.
Pont de Langlois
The Pont de Langlois, which once stood at the end the avenue du Plan-du-Bourg and was made famous by van Gogh, no longer exists. The drawbridge in rue G. Monge, which is often referred to as the Pont de Langlois, is some 2km/1.2 mi from the "genuine article" and is a later copy.
Thermes de Constantin
The Thermes de Constantin (Baths of Constantine), the Roman bathing complex, dates from the A.D. fourth century and is situated on Rue D. Maisto in the north of the town near the arm of the river called the "Grand Rhône". Of the once-extensive series of buildings, which resembled a palace, only the Caldarium (warm bath) and parts of the Hypocaust (underfloor heating) and the Tepidarium (warm air room) remain.
Van Gogh Foundation
The Fondation Vincent van Gogh was installed in 1984 in the Palais de Luppé in Arles. Many famous artists, painters, photographers, writers and composers paid homage to van Gogh, and there are exhibits and documents covering his life on display. Thus his dream of a "House of the Artist" has been realized.
Hours
April 1 to June 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
July 1 to September 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 | 19:00 |
October 1 to November 30
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
December 1 to March 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
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