Arles
From 3 km of Fourques, 10 km of Fontvieille, 15 km of Tarascon and Beaucaire
GPS : Longitude : 4.630278 E - Latitude : 43.678612 N
Altitude : 5 m
Population : 51614
Recognised by the French Ministry of Culture as a town of artistic and historical significance, Arles enchants visitors with its rich and diverse architectural heritage (many of its Roman monuments appearing on UNESCO's World Heritage List), as well as by the cultural celebrations which take place in the town throughout the year. Bullfighting is celebrated with Easter’s Féria de Pâques, and, in September, with the Féria du Riz. Tradition plays an important rôle in Arles, with Arlésiennes (women from the town) often dressing in traditional costume and appearing alongside the Camargue’s gardians to participate in many of the festivities held in the area. Nature lovers will be seduced by the region’s wide open spaces, from the vast expanses of the southern Camargue to the Alpilles mountains in the north and the Plateau de la Crau to the east.
Sight-seeing and tourist hotspots: Arles Antique (the regional archaeological museum), the Arles museum of nineteenth-century Provence life, the Musée Réattu, with its many paintings and photographs, the Roman theatre and arena, the Alyscamps necropolis and the cloisters of the Eglise Saint-Trophime.
A short distance away are the Regional Nature Park, Avignon castle, the town of Avignon and Saint-Rémy de Provence. Arles is around fifteen miles from Nîmes.
Ideas for activities: walking along the banks of the Rhône, visiting Provençal markets, walking and cycling routes, swimming in the sea and enjoying the Camargue’s beaches, fishing and boat trips.
