Arles is an ancient city that is full of history and of places protected by UNESCO. The small town is famous for its historical background, photography, arts and crafts !!Located very close from Nimes (30 minutes), Aigues Mortes or Le grau du Roi, and at only 20 minutes from les Saintes Maries de la Mer, Arles is the perfect place for the past and ruins lovers. BDo not worry, not only History lovers would enjoy it, but everyone. Enjoy a stroll in the small streets, discover the colourful façades of the buildings and the singing of the cicadas on a warm sunny day. If you only have a day to spend there, this is what you have to see :

Arles Amphitheatre was built in the 1st A.D. This huge place could contain around 20 000 people within. Like many other amphitheatre built during the Roman times, and the former model was Rome's Coliseum. First interesting fact, it is part of the sites protected by UNESCO. If the inside part is not really well preserved it is because the building has been evolving through the time. Many houses were built inside at the medieval time and four watching towers. To enjoy a better view over Arles, you can still climb in the remain s of one of these towers and from there admire a panoramic vision on the town.

Here is another building, symbol of Arles richness and prosperity during the Antiquity ! Built around the same time the amphitheatre was, the roman theatre was one of the many entertainment , this place also protected by UNESCO is the symbol of the rich life Arlesian roman society was living. Such as the game and shows happening in the Amphitheatre, plays and music was important to entertain and control the roman citizens. Nowadays, the vestiges of the grades and the stage may bring you back in time.

If there is an element that remembers how sophisticated and advanced was roman society, it is the public bathes also known as thermae. They were built around the 4th century A.D. Roman citizen enjoyed to meet in these bathes to have a talk of the city politic life, family or trading. Three pools of water warm, tepid and cold were necessary to pass by to wash and then refresh your body. During your tour, your guide would also explain you how the roman did warm water thanks to the hypocaust system.

For people who love Art, you can visit the Van Gogh Foundation know located in a private mansion that was totally restored to exhibit the impressionist painter pieces. On the place there is not only the Dutch master work to discover, but also, the temporary exhibitions. Another building exhibit Van Gogh work : the Espace Van Gogh, that used to be the town hospital were the painter was committed in 1888. Every summer, the festival called Les Rencontres photographiques d'Arles is a good way to (re)discover all the master work.

Arle's Cathedral is situated in the centre of the city, near the town hall and the obelisk fountain. This cathedral is a jewel of Romanesque Art. A sumptuous Christ in Majesty decorates the main portal. The main gate is also full of ornaments that give it a certain magnificence. This is perhaps the most impressive, heavy and splendid part of the cathedral ! The cathedral cloister is a jewel as well, thanks to all its decorations. Like it was built in between the 12th and the 14th centuries is a combination of Romanesque and Gothic architectures.

Strolling through the streets of Arles is an occasion to take your time and discover the town at your own rhythm. It is a good occasion to meet craft people by visiting their workshops, find little and atypical sops. You can also enjoy a relaxing time to buy gifts, purchases and "souvenirs". Nevertheless, the weekly market on Saturdays is the best way to buy local specialities, products and to be sure you buy Arlesian products !

Inaugurated in 1995 on the peninsula where the roman circus for horse carriages races was up in Roman times. Nicknamed the Blue museum, it is a place in which one you can discover the remains of a roman ship, sarcophagus, statues of Caesar and the divine Venus of Arles. It is a place perfect to know how the city evolved from the Antiquity to nowadays !

Here is one of the most confidential site of Arles. A little bit out of the town centre, this place is a kid of "isolated" due to the fact it was a necropolis. Used from Antiquity until the Middle Ages, this ancient and vast grave yard was located along the Via Julia was a way to announce the near entrance to the roman city. In between the Visigoth and medieval tumbs, it is possible to step and have a stroll. You can visit the only church present on the site : Saint Honorat. It is crazy to think that all this precious complex was at the point to disappear in the 19th century when they built the railway.

After all your visit and exploration, what's better than have a little refreshment ! The Forum square is the geographical centre of Arles. It is also the place where you can admire the most famous cafés of the town. Obviously, the most famous of all the hotels is situated there : Le Nord Pinus. Many celebrities as Ernest Heminguay, Cocteau or Picasso used to come here when they were in Arles. At the centre of the square you cannot miss the statue of a child of the town : Frédéric Mistral. He was a famous poet who decided to revival provençal language. And, last but not least, many people come here to admire a yellow café, the one immortalised in Van Gogh painting Café Terrace at Night. Here is a point of view of what you may see in a day in Arles, but there is so much more to discover and explore : The Reattu Museum, Camargue regional park, Van Gogh bridge, etc...


If there is an event that you may not miss it is the photograpic festival happening every year in summer. If you want to follow us on a visit of Arles, contact us !