Pourquoi Séjourner à Arles
Arles is one of the most historically rich small cities in France — a place where two thousand years of civilisation are layered into every cobblestoned street and sun-bleached limestone façade. The Romans made it the capital of Gaul and left behind an extraordinary collection of monuments that earned Arles a UNESCO World Heritage designation in 1981. The Arènes d'Arles, a colossal 20,000-seat amphitheatre built around 90 AD, still dominates the skyline and continues to host bullfights, concerts, and theatrical productions to this day. Alongside the arena, the Théâtre Antique, the Cryptoportiques du Forum, and the thermae of Constantine anchor one of the densest concentrations of Roman architecture outside Italy.
But Arles is perhaps best known as the city that transformed Vincent van Gogh. The Dutch painter arrived in February 1888, drawn by the intense Provençal light, and spent fifteen extraordinary months producing over 300 paintings and drawings — including Starry Night Over the Rhône, Café Terrace at Night, The Yellow House, and Bedroom in Arles. Today, a walking trail of easel-mounted reproductions marks the exact locations where Van Gogh set up his canvas, from the banks of the Rhône to the gardens of the hospital where he was treated.
Beyond the monuments, Arles is the gateway to the Camargue — the wild, untamed Rhône delta where white horses gallop through salt marshes, flamingos wade in shallow lagoons, and black bulls roam the open grasslands. The city is also the spiritual home of European photography thanks to Les Rencontres d'Arles, the annual photography festival that has drawn the world's finest photographers here since 1970. Every Saturday, the bustling market on Boulevard des Lices fills with Provençal produce — olives, lavender honey, goat cheese, saucisson d'Arles, and local wines. And the Roman necropolis of Les Alyscamps, immortalised by both Van Gogh and Gauguin, remains one of the most hauntingly beautiful sites in southern France. More recently, the LUMA Arles campus — crowned by Frank Gehry's shimmering aluminium tower — has established the city as a major centre for contemporary art, bridging Roman antiquity with twenty-first-century creativity.
Arles at a Glance
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Arles is wonderfully compact and easily explored on foot. The entire historic centre — from the amphitheatre to Les Alyscamps — spans barely a kilometre, and most major sights are within a ten-minute walk of the central Place de la République. The Romanesque portal of Église Saint-Trophime faces you as you cross the square, and the labyrinth of narrow streets radiating outward invites hours of unhurried wandering.
Getting here is straightforward. The closest major airport is Marseille Provence Airport (MRS), approximately 70 km southeast, connected to Arles by airport shuttle bus and regional train via Marseille Saint-Charles station. Arles itself has a SNCF train station served by TGV connections via Avignon or Nîmes, and regional TER services make it easy to hop between Provençal towns. If you're driving, the A54 motorway links Arles to Nîmes (30 km west) and Salon-de-Provence, while the N113 and N572 roads connect south to the Camargue.
Day trips from Arles are exceptional. The hilltop fortress village of Les Baux-de-Provence, with its Carrières de Lumières immersive art experience, is just 18 km northeast. The Pont du Gard, the spectacular three-tiered Roman aqueduct, sits 38 km north — combine it with a stop in Nîmes (30 km) to see the Maison Carrée, the best-preserved Roman temple in the world. Avignon and its Palais des Papes are 37 km north via the N570. The Camargue calls from the south — ride white Camargue horses with local gardians, watch thousands of greater flamingos at the Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau, or reach the Mediterranean pilgrimage town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (38 km) for a seafood lunch on the beach. For active travellers, cycling the flat Camargue trails between rice paddies, salt marshes, and étangs is one of Provence's finest experiences — most hotels in Arles can arrange bike hire.
Où Séjourner in Arles — By Area
Centre Historique
Place de la République & Amphitheatre
The beating heart of Arles. Stay within steps of the Arènes, Église Saint-Trophime, and the Forum square where Van Gogh painted Café Terrace at Night. The densest concentration of restaurants, boutiques, and galleries. Ideal for first-time visitors who want everything on the doorstep.
Roquette Quarter
West bank — riverside charm
A quieter, more residential neighbourhood tucked between the Rhône and the historic centre. Narrow streets open onto river views. Close to the Musée Réattu and the Thermes de Constantin. A good choice for travellers who want authentic local life within easy walking distance of the sights.
Trinquetaille
Right bank of the Rhône
Across the river from the old town, Trinquetaille offers a more spacious, laid-back atmosphere with views back towards the amphitheatre. Van Gogh painted Starry Night Over the Rhône from these banks. Generally more affordable than the historic centre, with easy access by footbridge.
Les Alyscamps & South
Roman necropolis & LUMA Arles
The southern fringe of the city, anchored by the atmospheric Les Alyscamps tree-lined avenue of tombs and the LUMA Arles contemporary art campus with its Frank Gehry tower. Quieter and greener, with easy access to the Camargue road south. Perfect for art lovers and those seeking tranquillity.
Éco-Hôtels à Arles
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Que Faire à Arles
🏟️ Arènes d'Arles (Roman Amphitheatre)
Built around 90 AD, the Arènes is a magnificent two-tiered Roman amphitheatre that once seated 20,000 spectators for gladiatorial combats. It's remarkably well preserved — 136 metres long and 107 metres wide — and still hosts bullfights during the Feria d'Arles, concerts, and theatrical performances. Climb to the top of the medieval towers added in the Middle Ages for panoramic views over the rooftops to the Alpilles and the Camargue beyond.
🎭 Théâtre Antique
Just south of the amphitheatre, this 1st-century BC Roman theatre once seated 10,000 people. Though much of the seating and stage wall have been lost to centuries of stone quarrying, the two remaining Corinthian columns — known as "the two widows" — stand hauntingly against the Provençal sky. The theatre hosts open-air performances during the summer festival season, just as it did two millennia ago.
🎨 Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles
This contemporary art space honours Van Gogh's fifteen transformative months in Arles (February 1888 – May 1889) through rotating exhibitions that place his work in dialogue with modern and contemporary artists. The foundation occupies a beautifully restored 15th-century townhouse, the Hôtel Léautaud de Donines, and presents original Van Gogh works alongside pieces by artists who have been influenced by his legacy.
⛪ Église Saint-Trophime & Cloister
The Romanesque portal of Saint-Trophime on Place de la République is one of the finest examples of Provençal Romanesque sculpture — a riot of saints, apostles, and scenes from the Last Judgement carved in pale limestone. Inside, the 12th-century cloister is a masterpiece of medieval art, with its intricately carved capitals depicting biblical scenes and Provençal saints. Both are UNESCO World Heritage listed.
🪦 Les Alyscamps
This ancient Roman necropolis stretches along a tree-lined avenue of stone sarcophagi southeast of the old town. Once one of the most famous burial grounds in the Western world, it was painted by both Van Gogh and Gauguin during their ill-fated collaboration in 1888. The atmospheric walk beneath plane trees past carved tombs to the ruined Romanesque church of Saint-Honorat is one of Arles' most evocative experiences.
🏛️ Cryptoportiques du Forum
Beneath the Place du Forum lie these extraordinary underground galleries — horseshoe-shaped corridors built by the Romans in the 1st century BC to level the ground for the forum above. Dark, cool, and atmospheric, the Cryptoportiques stretch for nearly 90 metres and offer a fascinating glimpse into Roman engineering. The galleries were used as wartime storage during World War II.
🖼️ Musée Réattu
Housed in a 15th-century priory on the banks of the Rhône, the Musée Réattu holds an impressive collection that includes 57 drawings donated by Pablo Picasso, works by Jacques Réattu himself, and a significant photography collection. The museum's position overlooking the river makes it worth visiting for the views alone.
🏗️ LUMA Arles & Frank Gehry Tower
Opened in 2021, the LUMA Arles campus is an ambitious contemporary art and culture centre founded by Swiss collector Maja Hoffmann. The centrepiece is Frank Gehry's 56-metre tower, clad in 11,000 stainless steel panels that shimmer like the surface of the Rhône. The campus occupies the former SNCF railway workshops and includes exhibition spaces, artist residences, a public park, and the Gehry tower's viewing platform with panoramic views over Arles and the Camargue.
🌉 Pont de Langlois (Van Gogh's Drawbridge)
A few kilometres south of Arles, a reconstruction of the Langlois drawbridge stands at the spot where Van Gogh painted his famous The Langlois Bridge at Arles in 1888. The original bridge was destroyed in World War II, but this faithful replica — moved here from a nearby canal — captures the scene Van Gogh immortalised with its characteristic iron mechanism and wooden deck over the still canal water.
🏺 Museon Arlaten
Founded in 1896 by the Nobel Prize-winning Provençal poet Frédéric Mistral, this ethnographic museum reopened in 2021 after a stunning decade-long renovation. It traces the culture, traditions, and daily life of Provence through costumes, furniture, tools, and ritual objects — all housed in a magnificent 16th-century townhouse built atop Roman ruins visible in the basement.
Recommended Randonnées
🏛️ Roman Arles Heritage Walk — ~3 km, 2–3 hours
Begin at the Arènes d'Arles and walk south to the Théâtre Antique, then west to the Cryptoportiques du Forum beneath Place du Forum. Continue along the Rhône embankment to the Thermes de Constantin (4th-century Roman baths), then loop back through the old town via Place de la République and Église Saint-Trophime. Finish at Les Alyscamps, the hauntingly beautiful Roman necropolis lined with sarcophagi. This walk covers all of Arles' major Roman and Romanesque UNESCO World Heritage monuments in a single morning.
🎨 Van Gogh Trail — ~4 km, 2–3 hours
Follow the official Van Gogh walking trail marked by easel-mounted reproductions placed at the exact locations where the artist painted. Starting at the Fondation Vincent van Gogh, the route passes the Place du Forum (where he painted Café Terrace at Night), the Espace Van Gogh (the former hospital with its courtyard garden), the Rhône riverbanks (Starry Night Over the Rhône), the Pont de Langlois drawbridge, and the site of the Yellow House on Place Lamartine. There are ten marked stations in total, each with an easel showing the original painting alongside the contemporary view.
🦩 Camargue Nature Walk — ~10 km, half day
Drive or cycle 40 km south from Arles to Salin-de-Giraud, then follow the marked trail through the Réserve Naturelle Nationale de Camargue. The flat path leads through salt marshes, étangs, and scrubland where you'll spot greater flamingos, egrets, bee-eaters, and Camargue horses grazing freely. The trail ends at the Plage de Piémanson, a wild, undeveloped beach on the Mediterranean. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, and water — there are no facilities along the route.
Nearby Cities
Questions Fréquentes
What is the best time to visit Arles?
The best time to visit Arles is from April to October. Spring (April–June) brings warm weather, wildflowers, and fewer crowds. Summer is peak season, highlighted by the Rencontres d'Arles photography festival (July–September) and the Feria d'Arles at Easter and in September. Autumn offers mild temperatures, the Camargue rice harvest, and golden light perfect for photography. Winters are mild but quiet, with temperatures around 7–12 °C and occasional Mistral winds.
How do I get to Arles from Paris?
The fastest route is the TGV high-speed train from Paris Gare de Lyon to Arles, which takes approximately 4 hours with one change in Avignon or Nîmes (or about 4 hours direct on certain services). Alternatively, fly to Marseille Provence Airport (70 km away) and take a shuttle bus or regional train to Arles in about 50 minutes. Nîmes–Alès–Camargue–Cévennes Airport is closer at 25 km, with limited seasonal flights. Arles is also accessible by car via the A54 motorway.
Are there hôtels écologiques in Arles?
Yes, Arles has a growing selection of eco-conscious accommodations, from restored historic townhouses to sustainable boutique hotels. When you book through IMPT, every reservation removes 1 tonne of CO₂ from the atmosphere at no extra cost — you pay the same price as Booking.com while earning 5% cashback in IMPT tokens. IMPT offers access to over 8 million hotels worldwide, with 25,000+ green-certified partners, and gives you EUR 5 free credit on your first booking.
What are the must-see attractions in Arles?
Arles' top attractions include the Arènes d'Arles (a 20,000-seat Roman amphitheatre from 90 AD still hosting events), the Théâtre Antique, the Romanesque Église Saint-Trophime and its exquisite cloister (both UNESCO World Heritage), Les Alyscamps Roman necropolis, the Fondation Vincent van Gogh, LUMA Arles with its Frank Gehry–designed tower, the Cryptoportiques du Forum, Musée Réattu, and Museon Arlaten ethnographic museum. Don't miss following the Van Gogh trail with easel markers at the locations where he painted.
Can you visit the Camargue from Arles?
Absolutely — Arles is the main gateway to the Camargue, the wild Rhône delta region stretching south to the Mediterranean. You can reach the Camargue's marshes, salt flats, and nature reserves within 20–30 minutes by car. Popular excursions include horseback riding with Camargue cowboys (gardians), watching wild flamingos at the Parc Ornithologique du Pont de Gau, visiting the pilgrimage town of Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer (38 km), and cycling through the rice paddies and salt marshes of Salin-de-Giraud.