A charming French city located 9 and a half hours from Calais by car, there are plenty of amazing things to do in Arles that make it worth the journey, including discovering its rich history and impressive links to the art world.
Named by CN Traveller as being one of the top places to visit in 2019, Arles is a picturesque holiday destination that celebrates a slow pace of life and is ideal for a bit of mindful travel.
As one of the most respected cities during Roman times, and home to famous artist Vincent Van Gogh for just over a year, you’ll find loads of things to do in Arles that are unique to this wonderful destination.
Spend time in Arles’ squares
History enthusiasts will love the Place de la Republique, which is home to some of Arles’ most fascinating landmarks. On this captivating square, you will find the city’s Town Hall, plus two churches, Saint Trophime and Saint Anne, and a 4th century obelisk!
Standing at a height of 15m, the obelisk was discovered in the amphitheatre and placed in the Place de la Republique in 1676. The fountain and bronze statues that you will see at the base of the monument were added in the 19th century and make it look even more spectacular.
Although the churches themselves are impressive, one of the top things to do in Arles is to visit Saint Trophime’s cloisters, which have been listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. When you visit here, pay close attention to the pillars as each one shows a different story from the Bible.
Arles’ other popular square, the Place du Forum, offers a number of lovely restaurants set under leafy trees, making it a great location for sitting and watching the world go by. As this square was once the city centre, you can almost imagine how busy it would have been during Roman times, and if you visit first thing in the morning you can enjoy a peaceful wander before the eateries open.
Discover ancient theatres
Due to its place in Roman history, you will find many ancient buildings throughout Arles, and two of the most important ones are the city’s theatres.
The amphitheatre is the largest ancient monument in Arles, and visitors will notice how much it looks like Rome’s famous Coliseum due to being inspired by it and built just a few decades later. With the capacity to hold 21,000 spectators, the amphitheatre was home to many gladiator and chariot racing events, and still hosts bull fights and concerts today.
This oval building was entered and exited via a number of staircases which you will be able to spot around the outside, and the towers you can see were actually added in the Middle Ages. Head to the top and you will be rewarded with lovely views of the city, including the city’s other ancient theatre.
At over 2000 years old, Arles’ smaller theatre had space for 8000 spectators and its lower seating tiers are still intact today. During the summer, you may be able to attend an outdoor show or event here, and can have fun imaging what it looked like in its prime before paying a visit to Arles museum where you can see a model showing how it used to be.
While at the museum, you can also see the large statue of Augustus that was originally located in the theatre, plus plenty of other interesting Roman artefacts, mosaics, and sculptures too.
Follow the Van Gogh trail
During Van Gogh’s time in Arles he created a whole number of artistic pieces which were inspired by different locations around the city, and one of the top things to do in Arles is to follow the Van Gogh trail and discover these for yourself.
Start the trail in the Place du Forum where you can see the yellow café that was painted in Van Gogh’s ‘Café Terrace at Night’, his first painting set on a nocturnal background. Following this, head to Pont de Langlois which was the subject of several paintings. The original bridge is no longer there, but there is a copy just 2km away which has inherited the name.
Finally, see the hospital where Van Gogh recovered after he famously cut off his ear after an argument with his roommate in the ‘Yellow House’. Here, he painted the courtyard which still looks similar today.
To see how the work of Van Gogh inspired contemporary art, pay a visit to the Fondation Vincent van Gogh where you can see one of his paintings alongside those from artists that he influenced, including Roy Lichtenstein and David Hockney among others.
A simply unmissable holiday destination for both history and art enthusiasts, with so many great things to do in Arles you are sure to have a wonderfully cultural break here. If you feel inspired to visit, book your Dover to Calais crossing and start planning your road trip to Arles today.
