Arles is a city and commune in the south of France, in the Bouches-du-Rhône department, of which it is a subprefecture, in the former province of Provence.
A large part of the Camargue is located on the territory of the commune, making it the largest commune in Metropolitan France in terms of territory (though Maripasoula, French Guiana, is much larger). The city has a long history and was of considerable importance in the Roman province of Gallia Narbonensis. The Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles were listed as UNESCO World Heritage Sites in 1981. The Dutch post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there.
An international photography festival has been held in the city since 1970. In summer, the largest international photographic festival (Les Rencontres de la photographie) in Europe is held here, and many photographers gather around the world from pro and amateur.
Amphitheater Les Arenes d'Arles
The Arles Amphitheatre is a Roman amphitheatre in the southern French town of Arles. This two-tiered Roman amphitheatre is probably the most prominent tourist attraction in the city of Arles, which thrived in Roman times. The pronounced towers jutting out from the top are medieval add-ons.
Built in 90 AD, the amphitheatre was capable of seating over 20,000 spectators and was built to provide entertainment in the form of chariot races and bloody hand-to-hand battles. Today, it draws large crowds for bullfighting during the Feria d'Arles as well as plays and concerts in summer.
Address: 1 Rond-Point des Arènes, 13200 Arles, France
Opening hours: From April 1 to April 30 Monday to Sunday from 9 o'clock to 18 o'clock
May 2 to September 30 -Monday to Sunday from 9 o'clock to 19 o'clock
October 1 to October 31 Monday to Sunday from 9 o'clock to 18 o'clock
From November 2 to March 31 Monday through Sunday from 10 o'clock to 17 o'clock
※ Bullfighting in progress Price: € 50
Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiques
The Musée de l'Arles antique or Musée départemental Arles antique or Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiques is an archeological museum housed in a modern building designed and built in 1995 by the architect Henri Ciriani, at Arles in the Bouches-du-Rhône département of France.
The museum houses a large collection of antiquities, including monumental Roman sculptures from the local region. Among the exhibits is a model of the multiple overshot water mills which existed at Barbegal, and have been referred to as "the greatest known concentration of mechanical power in the ancient world".
The Arles Rhône 3, an ancient Roman boat discovered in 2011, is on display since 2013.
Address: Avenue 1ere division de la France libre - Avenue Jean Monnet, 13635 Arles, France
Opening Hours: 10 am to 6 pm Tuesday Closed
Closing dates: January 1, May 1, September 1, December 1
Price: EUR 8 in general, 5 euro discount
Farmers market Marche
Morning market is held twice a week on boulevard Émile-Combes on Wednesday and boulevards des Lices and Georges-Clemenceau on Saturday from 8 o'clock to 12:45 pm. Also on the first Wednesday of each month flea markets will be held at boulevards des Lices. If you are in the city you must try to visit this farmers market to get some fresh and local produce at good prices.
Restaurant Le Galoubet
This is one of the popular restaurant in Arles recommended by gourmet experts.Space is minimalistic.And interior makes the places comforting and sophisticated.
Founded by a couple who spent 12 years at Saigon and are familiar with Asian cuisine started this space specializing in Mediterranean cuisine. Because it is seaside town, you should choose seafood for its quality and flavour. The food is delicious and the desserts are refreshing and exquisite.
Le Galoubet
Appetizer, Main, Dessert [Lunch about 30 EUR]
Address-18 r. Du Dr.-Fanton 13200 Arles
Opening hours: from 12 o'clock to 13:30, from 19 o'clock to half past 21 o'clock
Closed: Sunday, Monday
Vincent Van Gogh Museum of Fine Arts
Fondation Vincent Van Gogh Arles is a non-profit foundation located in Arles France dedicated to the work and legacy of Vincent Van Gogh. Its goal is to generate and promote cultural and artistic activities with reference to the oeuvre of Vincent van Gogh as related to the time he spent in Arles, and the intention that van Gogh expressed in establishing an international centre of artistic creation and exchange in Arles. The artistic director is editor-in-chief of Parkett, Bice Curiger.
Address-35 rue du Docteur Fanton, 13200 Arles
Opening Hours: 11 am to 7 pm (Last entry 18:15)
Closed holiday: September 18 - March 31 (There are changes every year)
Vincent van Gogh
Though his 15 months in Provence were some of the artist’s most tumultuous, they were also some of his most prolific. Van Gogh produced more than 300 paintings and drawings during this period, including masterpieces like “Starry Night Over the Rhône” .The foundation was created in 1983 to organize contemporary exhibitions paying tribute to van Gogh and his time in Arles. Today it cooperates with the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam to show his works on rotation. The museum also provided guidance during the renovation on standards of climate and security.
Hospital in Arles
Hospital at Arles is the subject of two paintings that Vincent van Gogh made of the hospital in which he stayed in December 1888 and again in January 1889.
The courtyard of the former Arles hospital, now named "Espace Van Gogh," is a center for van Gogh's works, several of which are masterpieces. The garden, framed on all four sides by buildings of the complex, is approached through arcades on the first floor. A circulation gallery is located on the first and second floors.
Van Gogh's mental health deteriorated and he became alarmingly eccentric, culminating in an altercation with Paul Gauguin in December 1888 following which van Gogh cut off part of his own left ear. He was then hospitalized in Arles twice over a few months. His condition was diagnosed by the hospital as "acute mania with generalised delirium".
Address-Place Du Docteur Felix-Rey, 13200 Arles
Cafe Van Gogh
The yellow cafe drawn in the masterpiece work "Night's Cafe / Terrace" still keeps the same ambience of the time and continues to operate. If you are a Van Gogh fan, you definitely want to visit, but please be aware as the reputation for food is not good.
It was such a small city that you could go around in less than an hour, and it's is a lovely town fascinating due to the wandering hidden trails.
How to get to Arles from Paris
TGV
About 4 hours from Gare de Lyon station
Budget: 18 euro to 230 euro Changes depending on reservation time, day of the week, time, season, etc.
Reservable from SNCF's website.
Bus
About 12 hours from Paris
Budget: EUR 29
Flixbus etc. Reservation possible from each bus company
※ We do not think that taxi is necessary in Arles city much, but when staying in a place away from the city you might need it. If you need a car, you can make a reservation by calling a taxi company directly as there is no Uber.
Arles Taxi Radio Http://www.taxi-arles.fr/taxi-gare-situe-arles.html
BON VOYAGE!