Arles Arènes @unsplash

Visit Arles

Are you staying in the Bouches du Rhône in the Provence Alpes Côte d’Azur region? Don’t miss out on a visit to Arles, a city rich in history and remains and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. For a day or several nights, discover all that the city has to offer: monuments, museums, festivals, natural sites in the Camargue…

Must-see sites in Arles

From historic monuments and painting and photography exhibitions to local crafts and nature walks in the Camargue, Arles has a vast cultural heritage to discover.

The Arles arenas: the Roman amphitheatre

Built in the 1st century, the Roman amphitheatre in Arles is undoubtedly the town’s most visited monument. Before the bullfights and Camargue races of today, the arena was used for games, fights and performances that entertained the 21,000 Arlesians who could come and sit in the stands.

Address: 1 rond-point des Arènes, 13200 Arles
Times: between 9am and 7pm depending on the season
Price: €7 to €9; free for under-18s

The ancient theatre

Le théâtre antique d’Arles is another witness to the presence of the Romans in Arles. Also dating from the late 1st century, it could seat up to 10,000 spectators. Although partially destroyed, it is still possible to imagine its former splendour. Festivals and shows bring the site back to life in summer. Most of the statues are preserved in the Musée Départemental Arles Antique and the most famous, the ‘Venus of Arles’, is now in the Louvre.

Address: Rue de la Calade, 13200 Arles
Times: between 9am and 7pm depending on the season
Price: from €7 to €9

The cryptoporticoes of the Forum

The cryptoporticus  are a series of galleries located beneath the Forum of Arles, the central square of the Roman city. They rest on pillars and vaults at a depth of 6 metres and serve to stabilise the esplanade, which is on sloping ground.

Address: Hôtel de Ville, Place de la République, 13200 Arles
Times: between 9am and 7pm depending on the season
Prices: from €3.60 to €4.50

Constantine’s thermal baths

Built in the 4th century, Constantine’s thermal baths were a place for sharing and exchanging ideas, with pools for personal hygiene and a training room (palestra) for physical exercise.

Address: Rue Dominique Maïsto, 13200 Arles
Times: between 9am and 7pm depending on the season
Prices: from €3.20 to €5

The Saint Trophime cloister

The Saint Trophime cloister, a listed historic monument, was built in the Middle Ages, between the 12th and 14th centuries. It is worth visiting for the beauty of the sculptures adorning the pillars of the galleries. These feature, in Romanesque or Gothic style, Christ and Saint Trophime, the town’s patron saint.

Address: Place de la République, 13200 Arles
Times: between 9am and 7pm depending on the season
Prices: from €4.50 to €5.50

 

The Vincent Van Gogh Foundation

The Vincent Van Gogh Foundation pays tribute to the artist who lived in Arles between 1888 and 1889. Here you will discover the paintings he produced during his stay in Arles, as well as other works by contemporary artists.

Address : 35 Rue Dr Fanton, 13200 Arles
Times: between 10am and 6pm
Price: €10; free for under-18s

How do I get to Arles?

Arles is strategically located 32 kilometres from Nîmes and 37 kilometres from Avignon. From Marseille, you can easily reach Arles by car (around 1 hour’s drive via the A7 and A54 or by taking the A55 and N568) or by train. Arles station is served by bus and taxi. It is just a few minutes’ walk from the town centre and all the major tourist attractions. You can easily explore the city on foot. Park your car in one of the town centre squares or in one of the park-and-ride sites served by the shuttles.

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