ARLES IN PROVENCE
This has indeed more than 2 500 years. Arles was established by the Greeks as early as the 6th century under the name of Theline.
Arles is noted for the wealth of its Roman and Romanesque heritage. The monuments of the city listed as Unesco world heritage in 1981 include the Roman amphitheatre (the arena), the Roman theatre, the Cryptoportico (foundations of the Roman Forum), the Roman baths of Constantine were extremely important for, the remains of the Roman circus, the cloister and portal of St Trophime’s, and the Alyscamp cemetery, is a large Roman necropolis, it was one of the most famous necropolises of the ancient world replique montre pas cher .
This cemetery was the departure point for the “chemin d’Arles”, also known as the Via Tolosana, one of the three medieval pilgrimage routes across France leading to Santiago de Compostela in Spain. Along with these , Arles has also preserved many lovely buildings dating from the 16th, 17th and 18th centuries. Since 1986, the city has joined the French network organization known as “Villes d’art et d’histoire”, guaranteeing quality cultural services .
Arles has three remarquable museums:
The Departemental Museum antique Arles : the Arles archeological museum, anchored since 1995 on the banks of the Rhone River, was built by Henri Ciriani beside the remains of the Roman circus. It contains the archeological collections of the city and the surrounding region, spanning the period from neolithic times to the end of the Roman and early Christian era.
The Museum Arlaten : the local ethnographical museum, is housed in the former Laval-Castellane town house dating from the 15th century. The museum was created in 1896 by Frederic Mistral, a regionalist poet, and exhibits costumes, furniture, tools, objects connected with local religious traditions and illustrating life in Provence during the 19th century.
The museum Reattu : donation Picasso, the fine arts museum, is housed in the former Grand Priory of the Knights of Malta. It exposes the works of Jacsques Réattu, an Arlesian painter of the periode of the French Revolution, 18th and 19th centuries, as well as modern and contemporary artists (Picasso, Zadkine and Alechinsky). The museum also possesses a remarkable photography collection (Henri-Cartier, Bresson, Edward Weston…).
Arles is first and foremost a city of heritage monuments that can best be appreciated on foot or on electric bicycles. The three museums in the city offer regularly scheduled events, and expositions are organized all year roud at a variety of sites : public halls and galleries, chapels, hotels, restaurants, etc. Arles is also a city of traditions and festivities. Not a month goes by without an amportant event of some kind, and all year round theatrical, musical, art and photography shows are organized.
The city also has an exceptional climate and is at the hub of a vactionland with a variety of landscapes situated within 30 minutes of the town center.
