Arles Overview
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One of southern France’s showpieces, the Provençal gem of Arles attracts droves of tourists with its rich Roman history, artistic legacy, exceptional museums and World Heritage sites. Set amid rolling landscapes characterised by lavender and sunflower fields, olive groves and vineyards, Arles surrounding countryside is as much a draw as its well-known historical monuments.
The UNESCO protected Arles Roman and Romanesque Monuments are among the city’s most visited sights, with the Roman theatre, amphitheatre and necropolis evidence of Arles’s importance and status in Roman times.
More modern attractions include the Place du Forum, featured in Vincent van Gogh’s Cafe Terrace at Night. The square has changed little since van Gogh completed the painting in 1888, and it is still possible to sit here and sip at a café au lait or pastis while watching the world go by. Arles’s artistic heritage has today made it a hotbed for modern art galleries, with works by masters like Picasso on display here.
For one of France’s finest examples of Romanesque architecture head for the Church of St Trophime, a major work presenting a sculpture representation of the Last Judgement. More fascinating stone work can be appreciated at the Ancient Museum of Arles, where an outstanding collection of Roman sarcophagi can be admired.
Arles offers abundant tourist-orientated accommodation including a handful of four-star hotels. Booking a hotel in advance is recommended, as the city typically becomes crowded with tourists during the peak season (July and August).
Conveniently reached via high-speed TGV train from Montpellier to the southwest, Marseille to the southeast (90kms) or Lyon to the north, Arles has efficient and reliable rail connections. Alternatively, it is possible to arrive by air at Nîmes-Arles-Camargue Airport from the UK, with low-cost flights serving East Midlands, Liverpool and London-Luton airports.
Temperatures in Arles peak in July and August, when the mercury regularly reaches 30°C. In winter, temperatures in Arles drop by 15 to 20°C, but it rarely gets cold being so close to the Mediterranean. These mild winters mean Arles is a suitable travel destination at any time of year.
September is a particularly rainy month for Arles, with up to 370mm of rain falling in this month alone. June sees the least rain and is one of the most popular times for tourists to visit. Occasionally dry winds blow in from the north towards the Mediterranean bringing cold and often wet days, a phenomenon known locally as the mistral.
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