Arles
Category:UNESCO World Heritage Sites Category:UNESCO tag to be fixedCategory:Has custom banner Arles is a town in the Provence in the southeast of France. Remote, uneventful, but definitely no waste of time, Arles is absolutely steeped in Provençal culture, and features a collection of Roman archaeological sites. Arles is included on the UNESCO World Heritage List.
Understand
The museums are small, but have some interested artifacts. Unfortunately there are no Van Goghs to be found in the city, despite the fact that his residence in Arles was his most productive. Chico Bouchiki, co-founder of the Gypsy Kings, as well as the rest of the band, is from Arles. Take a lazy stroll along the Rhône, dip into a café and continue strolling.
- 1 Office de Tourisme d'ArlesCategory:Has map markers, Boulevard des Lices, ☏ +33 4 90184120, ot-arles@arlestourisme.com. Apr-Sep: M-Sa 09:00-18:45; Oct: M-Sa 09:00-17:45, Su 10:00-13:00; Rest of the year: M-Sa 09:00-16:45, Su 10:00-13:00.
Get in
By train
- 1 Gare d'ArlesCategory:Has map markers (train station), Avenue Paulin Talabot.
By bus
There are several bus lines from towns all over the Bouches-du-Rhône. You can always buy your passage from the conductor.
- 2 Gare RoutièreCategory:Has map markers (bus station).
By car
Take the Autoroute from Salon or yet another from Marseille, but give preference to the smaller routes and Alpilles towns like Fontvieille, Paradou, les baux, etc.
Get around
Arles is for the most part small enough to enjoy by foot, if you aren't lazy. Otherwise, rely on taxis and buses.
By bicycle
Rent bicycles or a motor wheel for day trips in the alpilles around Arles.
- 3 Taco & CoCategory:Has map markers (right in front of the railway station). A few old bicycle, but cheap. They also have luggage storage (€5 / 24 hr). €10 full day, €7 half-day.
- 4 1 VélocCategory:Has map markers. New bicycles and more choices. €13 per day.
- 5 The H companyCategory:Has map markers, 1 Bis Rue Emile Fassin. Tu-Su, 10:00-12:30 14:00-19:00. Visit Arles on gyropodes. From €17.
See
- Category:See listing with no coordinatesArles PatrimoineCategory:Has map markers, patrimoine@ville-arles.fr. Most of the important sites of Arles can be visited on a combined ticket, which includes the ampthitheatre, the antique theatre, the cryptoporticos, the cloister, and many more. €15 for 4 sites and the Réattu museum valid for one month, €19 for all sites and museums for six months.
Historical centre
- 1 Arènes d'ArlesCategory:Has map markers (Roman ampthitheatre). It was built in the first or second century BC. It houses Corridas at Easter and the Rice Festa in September. Throughout the summer there are various courses camarguaises (bloodless bullfighting). €9, reduced €7, free for under 18s.
- 2 Théatre Antique d'ArlesCategory:Has map markers (Classical theatre). W-M 10:00-18:00. It was built at the end of the 1st century BC. €5 (free every first Sunday of the month and for children up to 18).
- 3 CryptoportiquesCategory:Has map markers (Cryptoporticos) (Place de la Republic and Place du Forum). Now completely underground, the cryptoporticos, a semi-subterranean gallery, was a sort of a base for the Roman Forum in Arles. It was built at the end of 1st century BC. The current structure has a horseshoe form. The entrance is inside the Hôtel de Ville d'Arles.
- 4 Thermes de ConstantinCategory:Has map markers. The remains of the Roman baths.
- 5 Cathédrale Saint-TrophimeCategory:Has map markers (Church of Saint Trophime). A church in Romanesque style built in 12th century. Besides the church there is a quite remarkable cloister.
- 6 Cloister Saint-TrophimeCategory:Has map markers. A former monastery with a beautiful courtyard. €5.50.
- 7 Espace Van GoghCategory:Has map markers (Médiathèque & Bibliothèque Municipale), Place Docteur Félix Rey, ☏ +33 4 90 49 39 39. A former hospital with a courtyard where Van Gogh was kept under medical treatment. Free.
Out of historical centre
- 8 AlycampsCategory:Has map markers. An ancient burial site and early Christian cemetery. Its allée of trees was painted by Van Gogh. Eglise Saint Honorat is at the SE end of the allée.
- 9 Pont de LangloisCategory:Has map markers (Pont Van Gogh) (quite a bit out of the city centre). It was the subject of several paintings by Vincent van Gogh.
Museums
- 10 Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiquesCategory:Has map markers (Musée de l'Arles antique), Presqu'île-du-cirque-romain BP 205, ☏ +33 4 13 31 51 03, info.mdaa@cg13.fr. An archaeological museum of Arles. At the NE side of the museum there are some very scarce remains of the Roman circus.
- 11 Musée RéattuCategory:Has map markers (Fine Arts museum), 10, rue du Grand Prieuré, ☏ +33 4 90 49 37 58. Nov-Feb: Tu-Su 10:00-17:00; Mar-Oct: Tu-Su 10:00-18:00. A surprisingly large museum in the home of 19th-century artist Joseph Réattu, featuring his paintings, sketches and a painting by Pablo Picasso, photography, and some modern art. €8, 65 and over €5.
- 12 Museon ArlatenCategory:Has map markers, 29-31 rue de la République, ☏ +33 4 13 31 51 99, museon.arlaten@cg13.fr. Tu-Su 19:00-18:00. A modern ethnographic museum of Provence that incorporates an elegant Jesuit chapel. Full price €8; concessions: €5 (aged 18-25, persons aged over 65, carer accompanying a disability card).
- 13 Luma ArlesCategory:Has map markers. An artistic and cultural complex, especially interesting due to the building architecture, designed by Frank Gehry.
Beyond the city
Each of the following or some combined can be visited on a day tour by bicycle from Arles.
- 14 Abbaye de MontmajourCategory:Has map markers (a few kilometres northeast of Arles). A national monument and former Benedictine monastry founded in 948. €6.
- 15 Les Moulins d'Alphonse DaudetCategory:Has map markers, Fontvieille (10 km northeast of Arles). Four picturesque windmills of which two are excellently preserved. €2 to get inside the actual Moulin de Daudet.
- 16 CamargueCategory:Has map markers (just 20-30 km south of Arles). One of Europe's largest river deltas and wetlands, a great place to spot flamingos and French cowboys.
- 17 Réserve Naturelle des Marais du VigueiratCategory:Has map markers (30 km southeast of Arles). A 1,200 ha nature reserve and one of the most popular sites inside the Camargue. With over 2,000 types of flora and fauna, including flamingos, herons, toros, horses, and much more.
Do
The Market and definitely think about researching for expositions and other events of the sort.
Buy
- Markets and brocantes.
- Check out the Saturday market for sure.
Eat
Saucisson d'Arles (traditionally made with a bit of donkey meat), marinated olives from the market, Languedoc cheeses from the market, etc. Other dishes: Gardianne de Boeuf, Daubes, Fougasse d'Arles (with duck confit inside)
For restos, check out the menus on side street restaurants.
- 1 La BohêmeCategory:Has map markers, 6 Rue Balze, ☏ +33 4 90 18 58 92.
- 2 La Mule BlancheCategory:Has map markers, 9 Rue du Président Wilson, ☏ +33 4 90 93 98 54.
- 3 QueridaCategory:Has map markers, 37 rue des Arenes, ☏ +33 4 90 98 37 81. lunch from noon; dinner from 19:00; closed Tu & W.
Drink
- Pastis, the local wines are good with food. Take advantage of the proximity of Nîmes for wines.
- There's the touristy Café Van Gogh, painted to look like his Night Café painting and located at the site of his original painting.
- Check out some of the other cafés in place du Forum, Rue Wilson, etc...
Sleep
If you plan on camping in this area, keep in mind that Arles is surrounded by rivers, streams, and marshes which all have mosquitoes. Another favored alternative is sleeping in the streets. Place de la Libération offers a hospitable sidewalk with a boulder, dedicated to two American WWII pilots shot down over Arles, under shelter of which you may sleep.
Budget
- 1 Auberge de JeunesseCategory:Has map markers (Youth Hostel), 20, avenue du Maréchal Foch (walking distance of the train station), ☏ +33 4 90 96 18 25, arles@hifrance.org.
Mid-range
- Category:Sleep listing with no coordinatesRésidence Club Le Domaine de l'EstajanCategory:Has map markers, Mas De Veran, ☏ +33 4 90 18 49 49. The residence is made up of several small buildings, no higher than one floor, spread around the Maeva Camargue estate: Les Roselières, Les Oliviers, Les Amandiers, Les Piboules, etc. A large number of leisure activities (riding, tennis, golf, etc.) and relaxation facilities (balneotherapy centre) are available.
There are a few hotels apparently built within parts of former abbeys, such as Hôtel du Cloître by Saint Trophime. Also, there are tons of hôtels de tourisme.
Connect
As of July 2023, Arles and its approach roads have 5G from all French carriers.
Go next
Arles is centrally located. The town straddles Provence and the Languedoc. Profit from its positioning and enjoy the great nature that surrounds: the Camargue and beaches to the south, the Alpilles to the east, etc. The Way of St James pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostella came from Italy through Arles, where the pilgrims joined the Arles Way.
- Aix-en-Provence — the city of Cézanne and the Montagne Sainte-Victoire
- Avignon — inhabited since the stone age, Avignon was home to popes in the 14th century
- Saint-Rémy-de-Provence — a little village, very charming in the summer
- Saint-Martin-de-Crau — foremost visited for its nature, with the only arid steppe in Europe
- Tarascon — founded by the Romans in Caesar's time and haunted by a dragon, this town has a well-preserved medieval castle and other old architecture