Page 498 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - France

The exterior of the
impressive Roman
amphitheatre, les Arènes

1 3 "'=
ARLES Cryptoportiques

⌂ Hôtel de Ville, place de la
République # 10am–6pm
! F6 ⌂ Bouches-du-Rhône k 25 km (16 miles) NW of Wed–Mon ¢ Tue and public
Arles £ @ Av Paulin Talabot n Blvd des Lices; www.arles holidays ∑ patrimoine.
tourisme.com ville-arles.fr
Like a miniature version of Rome, charming Arles Beneath the site of the
spreads out around a massive arena, and remnants of Roman Forum and accessed
its Roman heyday are scattered all around its narrow via the Hôtel de Ville, these
streets. The town is even better known for its conn­ huge, horseshoe-shaped
ection with Vincent Van Gogh, who, inspired by the under ground galleries – up to
10 m (33 ft) wide and ventilated
bright light and rich colours, enjoyed the most creative by air shafts – were probably
period of his short life here. Arles is also the gateway used as granaries or possibly as
to the unique wetlands of the Camargue (p500). a barracks for slaves. Cons-
tructed in the 1st century AD,
then buried beneath later
church buildings, these
1 "' 2 " impressive structures were
Les Arènes Église St-Trophime left forgotten and inaccessible
until archaeologists began
⌂ Rond-point des Arènes ⌂ Place de la République
# 9am–6pm daily ¢ Events # 10am–6pm Wed–Mon the task of re-opening
them in 1935.
∑ arenes-arles.com ∑ patrimoine.ville-arles.fr
The largest Roman building This is one of Provence’s great
in Gaul is as impressive now Romanesque churches. The PICTURE PERFECT
as when it was built around ornately sculpted portal and Following
90 AD. Able to seat 20,000, beautiful cloisters (for which Van Gogh
today it is used for concerts there is an admission fee) are Visit the atmospheric
and other spectacles. The top decor ated with biblical scenes. place du Forum in the
tier of seating provides an St Trophime, thought to be evening for a snap of
excellent panoramic view of the first bishop of Arles in the the Restaurant-Café
Arles. To the southwest is the early 3rd century, appears Van Gogh, still looking
ele gant Théâtre Antique, with St Peter and St John on just as it did when
another beautifully preserved the carved northeast pillar. it inspired his Café
Roman-era stadium with The nave of the church is hung Terrace at Night (1888).
2,000 tiered seats. with Aubusson tapestries.
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