Page 409 - Lonely Planet France’s Best Trips (Travel Guide)

the town’s most memora-
ble attractions.
At Les Arènes (Amphi-
théâtre; www.arenes-arles.
com; Rond-Point des Arènes;
adult/child €6/free, incl Théâ-
JEAN-PIERRE LESCOURRET ©
tre Antique €9/free; h9am-
8pm Jul & Aug, to 7pm May-Jun
& Sep, shorter hours rest of
year) slaves, criminals and
wild animals (includ-
ing giraffes) met their
dramatic demise before
a jubilant 20,000-strong
crowd during Roman
gladiatorial displays.
The Théâtre Antique ATLANTIC COAST 38 ATLANTIC TO MED
(%04 90 96 93 30; bd des
Lices; h9am-7pm May-Sep,
shorter hours rest of year),
which dates from the 1st
century BC, is still regu-
larly used for al fresco
concerts and plays.
54 p244, p303,
p409
The Drive » From Arles take
the scenic N568 and A55 route
into Marseille. It’s 88km (an
hour’s drive) away.

TRIP HIGHLIGHT
8 Marseille
With its history, fusion of
cultures, souq-like mar-
kets, millennia-old port
and corniches (coastal
roads) along rocky inlets
and sun-baked beaches,
Marseille is a captivating
and exotic city.
Ships have docked for
more than 26 centuries at
the city’s birthplace, the
colourful Vieux Port (Old
Port), which remains a
thriving harbour to this
day. Guarding it are Bas
Fort St-Nicolas on the

407