ARLES,France, Camargue,Walking Tour in the City,Part Two,Europe,4k video,2025.
Founded by the Romans on the Rhone River, Arles retains all the charm and colors of a bygone era. Tourists linger in the colorful cafés that inspired some of Van Gogh’s most famous paintings (Café Van Gogh) and stroll along the romantic riverside promenade at sunset. Wandering through the center, you’ll glimpse ancient houses with peeling facades, crowded squares that come alive during festivals, and white stone monuments gleaming in the warm summer sun.
The charming streets of Arles will magically transport you into a Van Gogh painting: picturesque corners, charming bistros shaded by plane trees, where you can breathe in the atmosphere of the Impressionist period, the romantic Rhone River at sunset, the hidden alleys, and the remains of the ancient Roman city.
The city has a glorious past: a Greek-Massalian trading post, it took on truly urban characteristics in Roman times, becoming one of the most flourishing metropolises of Gaul. It was among the greatest religious centers of the Roman West and, in fact, one of the capitals of the Empire in the Constantinian era.
Its prestigious Roman monuments (the Arena, the Ancient Theater, the Baths of Constantine, the Alyscamps necropolis), together with the Romanesque Cathedral of Saint Trophime and other notable ancient, medieval, and modern buildings, were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981, earning the city the title of City of Art and History.
In the city center, a splendid example of a Roman amphitheater is found in a circular square that follows its shape. It is surrounded by ancient houses with colorful shutters. During the Roman Empire, chariot races and gladiatorial contests were held here. Today, it has become the city’s main venue for concerts, shows, and even bullfights, which enliven the city, attracting up to 12,000 spectators.
Next to the amphitheater is the Roman theater, which unfortunately, for centuries, especially in the Middle Ages, was used as a quarry for the construction of the city. Due to this terrible looting, few visible remains remain today, including the ancient steps and only two columns, which belonged to the stage, and some mosaics on the orchestra floor.
Another point of interest is the Place de la République, undoubtedly one of the most scenic squares in Arles. This large pedestrian area encompasses some of the city’s most important buildings and monuments: the Hôtel de Ville, the Saint-Trophime Cathedral, the Church of Sainte-Anne, and an imposing Egyptian obelisk made of granite.
The Cathedral is a true jewel of Provençal Romanesque art, with its superb portal finely carved with an elaborate biblical scene, the Last Judgement.
The Cloister of Saint-Trophime is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
The history of Arles is closely intertwined with that of a great Impressionist painter, Vincent Van Gogh, who spent several years of his life in Provence.It was in Arles that he painted some of his most famous works, such as Sunflowers, The Chair, and Café la Nuit.
We continue our tour from Rue Jean Granaud to the Espace Van Gogh and Rue du President Wilson, wandering around Place Felix Rey for a bit to return to the Espace Van Gogh and its Jardin de la Maison de Sante. We exit at Place Felix Rey and follow Rue du President Wilson to Rue de la Republic, turning onto Rue Frederic Mistral.The Église des Frères Prêcheurs is a notable example of Southern Gothic architecture, built between 1448 and 1499 in the Méjan district after the destruction of a previous building. Founded by the Dominicans who arrived in 1231, the Frères Prêcheurs remained until the Revolution, when the church was deconsecrated, divided into lots, and used as a warehouse, only to be later saved and restored.Following the route, we pass the Banc a Degres and arrive at the Cafe Van Gogh, where the painter loved to spend his days, and the Place du Forum. After visiting the square with all its little bars we return to Rue de la Liberté and Rue du Fanton, exploring Les Rencontres d’Arles. Along the river, we arrive at Rue des Dominicains and the Église des Frères Prêcheurs.The Rencontres d’Arles is one of the most prestigious international photography festivals, founded in 1970 in Arles,France.
From here we reach the Thermes de Constantin on Rue du 4 Septembre and the Salle Jean et Pons Dedieu concert hall, Rue du Grand Prieuré. We continue to admire the splendid medieval buildings of the historic center on Rue du 4 Septembre, the Église Saint-Julien, and Rue de l’Amphithéâtre, before returning to the Roman amphitheater where we conclude our tour.
The Thermes de Constantin,built in the early 4th century AD during the reign of Emperor Constantine I, are one of the main Roman thermal complexes in Narbonne Gaul. Located near the Rhone are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.The Église Saint-Julien d’Arles, located on Rue du 4 Septembre, is a historic 11th-century church, later rebuilt in 1622. Today restored, it is deconsecrated and hosts cultural events, shows and exhibitions.