Arles

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Arles is a Great Small Town.

A June 1999 trip to Arles by Collin Best of IgoUgo

Arles ArenaMore Photos

Arles was a town I had wanted to go to since before my first trip to Europe, to see the Roman Arena. Finally, I got there on my next trip to France, and found much more than I had expected.

  • 6 reviews
  • 3 photos

Arles is a Great Small Town.Best of IgoUgo

Overview

The Roman Arena is definitely what Arles revolves around. It is set right in the middle of the medieval town that was built around it. Next to the Arena is a Roman Theatre and a short walk from there is more Roman ruins to explore. The medieval town is one of the best I have seen in Europe. It really gives you a feeling of being back in time, making this a great town just to walk around in and explore. In addition, Arles is were Van Gogh and Picasso spent some of their last days painting. Van Gogh painted his famous painting of a café at night there.

Quick Tips:

Best Way To Get Around:

One of the best things about this town is that you can walk anywhere. There are buses that run though town, but they are not necessary if you are not leaving the old town.

Le RhoneBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

L'hotel Le Rhone is not a luxury accommodation, but for the price it was excellent. For a room with a Queen size bed and a shared bathroom it was just under $20 US, and it was about $5 more for a private bathroom or another bed. It is very clean and is in a charming old building. The most important thing is that it is right in the middle of the old part of town and only a 5 or 10 minute walk from the train station.

There is a youth hostel in Arles that cost about $15 for a shared room, but it is out of the old town and on the opposite side from the train station. It looked clean and modern, and it closes during the day.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Collin on September 4, 2000

Le Rhone
Place Voltaire Arles, France
(04) 9096-4370

Hostellerie des ArenesBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Arles Arena2
The view of the Arena is great and so is the food. This place is not expensive, and you get very good Provincial cuisine. I sat outside and watched the sun go down - a memorable dining experience.

P.S. If your looking for a really cheep things to eat, go to the Supermarket just outside the northern city wall, before you get to the train station.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Collin on September 10, 2000

Hostellerie des Arenes
62 rue du Refuge Arles, France

Arenes (Les)Best of IgoUgo

Attraction | "l'Arenes"

Arles Arena
I found that I liked the Arena in Arles better than the Coliseum in Rome. I think that the reason for this is mostly because the Arena in Arles is surrounded so closely by the old town buildings, and also because it is built on a spot carved out of the slope of a hill. This dramatic setting gives it a feeling of being part of the town that all the other Roman arenas I have seen did not have.

The Arena was, of course, built by the Romans between 16 BC- AD 68, it measures 136 by 107 meters, and could seat up to 25,000 spectators. During medieval times it was converted to a castle, I’ve seen drawings on post cards of what it looked like. Finally, it was restored to its present state about a hundred years ago and is now used for bullfights and other things.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Collin on September 4, 2000

Arenes (Les)
Center of Arles Arles, France

Roman RuinsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

The Arena is the high point of the Roman remnants in Arles, but there is more. Down a narrow street from the Arena is a theatre that is not in as good of shape, but still impressive. Closer to the river is a Roman Bath that is partially collapsed, giving a cross-section, so it is possible to see how the floors and walls were heated. And one of the most interesting Roman sites I have seen is the Cryptoportique. It is a dirt path lined with trees and concrete coffins, which leads to an ancient crypt.

When I was there in late June, there were no crowds at any of these sites.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Collin on September 4, 2000

Roman Ruins
Arles Arles, France

ArlesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Day Trips From Arles"

Pont du gard
Because it is a small town, but still near major train routes, Arles is a great location to day trip from. Some of my favorite places to day trip in Southern France include Avignon, Orange, Nime and Pont du Gard.

Avignon has a great medieval wall that circles the old town and what was once the Papal Palace. The Pope moved here from Rome when there was too much turmoil in Italy.

Orange is famous for it's Roman Theatre, which is the best preserved anywhere.

I was not as fond of Nime as the places I listed because it is more of a modern city, but it does have a large Roman Arena. Mostly I day-tripped there so I could catch a bus to the Pont du gard, a famous part of a Roman Aqueduct. Not only is the Pont du gard a bridge across a ravine, there is also a tunnel through the hill side which once carried water, you can walk through.

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Collin on September 10, 2000

Arles
Central Arles Arles, France

About the Writer

Collin
Collin
San Francisco, California

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