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Roman ruins – |
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 Visit
the Amphitheater, an arena built in the 1st century A.D., where spectacles
were staged with gladiator combat and wild animal shows. This is absolutely
a great place to run around. Climb up the watchtower (a later addition from
the Middle Ages when the amphitheater was used as a fort) for a bird's eye
view of Arles. The arena is still in use today – check the calendar
for events. |
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For
more ruins, there's also the Roman theater, and the baths of Constantine.
Next to the Roman theater, there's a large public park, the Jardin d'Ete,
with a playground. |
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To
see a collection Roman marble statues, amphorae and sarcophagi, visit the Museum of Ancient Arles (Musee de L'Arles Antique). |
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Arlaten Folk Museum (Museon Arlaten) – Step into country life in Provence. Full size dioramas of houses and farming
in the 17th - 19th centuries, and lots of period costumes. |
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Van Gogh walking tour –Van Gogh was living in Arles
when he painted some his best paintings – Sunflowers, The Bedroom, The Yellow House. Around town, there are 10
sites where you can stand in the spot where Van Gogh set up his easel – follow the yellow arrows to each site, marked with a laminated
picture panel. E.g., Place Lamartine for The Yellow House or the
Jardin d'Ete on Boulevard des Lices for the Public Garden at Arles. |
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Go to a "bull game" (course camarguaise) – Not quite a bull fight, razeteurs, guys wearing white,
run around the arena trying to pull a ribbon from the feisty Camargue bulls.
In this local tradition, the bull is the center of attention, but doesn't
die. April to October. |
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Costume Festival – First Sunday in July
is the Costume Festival (Fete du Costume), a colorful parade of ladies wearing
regional dress – full skirt with cinched-in waist, shawl and
velvet headdress. |
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Visit van Gogh
in Arles – his yellow house on the corner, his bedroom, the
postman and his wife, the wooden drawbridge over the river, vase
of sunflowers. (Picture book)
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"Twelve
flowers that are light on light." Vincent van Gogh's own words,
paired with his paintings, are a magical combination. Poetic phrases
focus on colors in each picture – butter yellow chairs, a pink
sky, the lady's clothes are black, black, black – and make
the paintings really come alive. A fabulous book for all ages, kids
and adults alike. (Picture book)
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Toddlers
can get their fingers all over this charming board book, van Gogh
paintings with rhyming descriptions. "Twelve sunflowers lean
toward the light, five are wide open, seven shut tight." (Board
book)
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"Where
Camille lived, the sunflowers grew so high the looked like real
suns…" One day, Vincent, a painter, comes to live in
Arles, and Camille, the postman's daughter, becomes his friend.
A bright story that will delight little ones. (Picture book)
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(More children's
books on other France pages) |
