Arles, Arles & the Camargue
The capital of the Camargue, meeting place for photography, music and bullfighting… is a city of art and history, classified by UNESCO as world heritage of humanity for its old center and all of its Roman and Romanesque monuments. A luminous city which for a time attracted the painter Van Gogh…
What makes this city special?
35 kilometers south of Avignon, Arles benefits from an exceptional natural environment with the Rhône, the Crau plain, the Camargue and the Alpilles. The city was an important metropolis of Roman Gaul. Some remarkable monuments still attest to this today and can be visited.
Places not to be missed on holiday in Arles, France
Lovers of old stones will not miss the ancient theatre, which offers shows and music festivals every summer, the arenas, the Alyscamps (the necropolis) or the thermal baths of Constantine.
The best way to understand the city is to go directly to the Place de la République, which houses buildings of different styles and periods: the town hall, completed in 1676, listed as a historical monument, the tower of the 'Renaissance style clock, the Sainte-Anne church, from the 17th century, or the Saint-Trophime church and its cloister, built in the 12th century. Around the square, the streets are full of shops, and among them several bookstores, cafes and very pleasant restaurants.
Arles may be 2,500 years old, but it shows an unusual dynamism. It has just welcomed a monument resolutely turned towards the future, the Luma tower, a building designed by Frank Gehry, within a completely original cultural space, which offers exhibitions, conferences and workshops, etc.
The capital of the Camargue is associated with the figure of Vincent van Gogh, who painted his finest masterpieces there between 1888 and 1889. The Vincent van Gogh Foundation has set itself the task of promoting the painter's artistic heritage, and offers exhibitions and debates in order to pay tribute to the artist's work while exploring its impact on current creation. A must for any fan!
Finally, the city is renowned for its Rencontres de la Photographie. In fifty years, the festival has acquired an international dimension. Every summer, it exhibits the works of 200 artists in different places in the city. A real delight!
Places to Visit on Vacation from Arles, France
During your stay in Arles, be sure to visit the Camargue. You can see horses, flamingos and bulls there, and soak up the wild atmosphere of this natural site with its beaches, rice fields, salt marshes, ponds... For exceptional moments!
