TOURSIME
Visit Arles
Bordered by the Rhône, battered by the Mistral wind and weathered by the sun, Arles is a city of millennia of architectural beauty and Provençal charm. From the belfry of the Hôtel de Ville to the 17th-century mansions and the Saint-Trophime cloister, a mecca of Romanesque art, the old stones evoke Rome, its tiled roofs, its soft colours and even its dolce vita. In Arles, you'll want to stroll through the narrow streets, along the squares and noble facades, stopping off at the terraces of the bistros and restaurants, especially when, from Easter to September, bullfights and ferias follow one another, filling the town with clamour... and visitors.
The city's walls are a crossroads of history, but bullfighting and photography give it a sense of movement and excitement. Arles is also bursting with cultural life, thanks in particular to its museums, the Actes Sud publishing house, the National School of Photography and its many festivals. Fashion also has its place, with Christian Lacroix reviving Arles' roots and their shades of colour.
TOURSIME
Things to see and do
A historic, artistic and highly dynamic city, Arles is full of treasures, not to mention the many events and exhibitions that take place throughout the year.
The historic centre, with the arenas, the Saint-Trophime cloister, the Alyscamps, the Baths of Constantine...
The LUMA Foundation cultural complex designed by Franck Gehry
The Réattu and Arlaten museums, the Musée Départemental Arles Antique, the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation
The Arles Photography Festival
Ferias at Easter and in September
