Things to do in Arles

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Arles

L'espace Van Gogh

Van Gogh's asylum is a square building with over 300 years of history, located in Arles. The famous painter Van Gogh was admitted here for treatment after his first mental breakdown; to escape life at the asylum, he even went so far as to self-mutilate and cut off his ear, and it was here that he painted the famous "L'espace Van Gogh courtyard". Today, it is open to the public as L'espace Van Gogh. Visitors can not only explore the library and various shops, but also admire famous Van Gogh paintings, such as the restored "L'espace Van Goghcourtyard".

No. 2 of Best Things to Do in Arles

Arles Amphitheatre

The Arles Amphitheatre was built at the end of the 1st century AD during the Roman Empire. It is a massive amphitheatre that can accommodate 20,000 people and is also a landmark of Arles. The amphitheatre was converted into a fortress during the Middle Ages and was rebuilt as an amphitheatre in the 19th century. Today, it serves as a temporary bullring from Easter in the spring until September and is also used as an opera house and a venue for outdoor theater. The entire amphitheatre is oval-shaped, with a long diameter of 136 m, a short diameter of 107 m, and a height of 21 m. It has a three-story structure and is surrounded by 60 arches. Although it is a Roman-era structure, the influence of classical Greek architecture can be seen everywhere in its columns, decorations, and stone carvings. Climb the tower above the entrance to enjoy views of the ancient city of Arles, the Chalaronne, and the surrounding mountains. The current Arles Amphitheatre is famous for bullfighting and is still in use today. It is one of the few places in France where you can see bullfighting today, which is very attractive to bullfighting fans, and tickets are often hard to come by. In addition to bullfighting, plays and concerts are also held here in the summer.

Roman Theatre of Arles

Roman Theatre of Arles is an ancient Roman structure in the southern French city of Arles, built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus at the end of the 1st century BC. It was built between 40 BC and 30 BC and completed around 12 BC, making it one of the earliest stone theatres built by the Romans. The theatre's seating area is fan-shaped; only 20 rows remain today, but at its peak, it had 34 rows and could accommodate 10,000 spectators. The stage at that time was also magnificent, with stone columns for hanging curtains reaching 20 m in height, while only 2 broken columns less than 10 m tall remain in the middle of the site today. Roman Theatre of Arles is now used as a venue for folk costume festivals, photography exhibitions, film festivals, and more, and frequently hosts various theatre festivals and concerts. Especially on midsummer nights, open-air concerts are often held here, and listening to performances under the unobstructed starry sky is a very special experience.

No. 12 of Best Things to Do in Bouches-du-Rhone

Carrières de Lumières

The Carrière Museum of Time was originally a large local quarry. After mining, it was developed into a famous projection museum. Every year, it exhibits the works of different artists, and uses projection video technology combined with music effects to skillfully project paintings on different walls and floors, allowing visitors to fully immerse themselves in the modern art of sound, light and electricity.

No. 14 of Best Things to Do in Bouches-du-Rhone

Château des Baux-de-Provence

Château des Baux-de-Provence is located in the Provence region of France, perched on a cliff like an ancient vulture. Though the old main tower is weathered, it stands tall, as if guarding its former dignity. Amidst the crumbling walls, one can still glimpse the piety and solemnity of the past. It is this very imperfection that gives it a unique aesthetic value—a fusion of nature and humanity, a profound dialogue between ruins and life. From the highest point of the château, you can take in the magnificent scenery of Provence. Today, the Château des Baux-de-Provence is no longer a symbol of power, but has become a haven for history and art. It features full-scale replicas of medieval siege engines, transporting visitors back to the era of knights and castles. The well-preserved village of Les Baux below still maintains its medieval architectural layout and atmosphere, creating a dialogue across time with the castle ruins above.

No. 1 of Best Things to Do in Provence

Palais des Papes

The Palais des Papes stands majestically on the rocky heights at the northern end of the old town of Avignon, overlooking the Rhône River. It is one of the largest medieval Gothic buildings in Europe. In the early 14th century, the papal court moved to Avignon, and for nearly seventy years thereafter, several popes successively resided here, earning Avignon the title of "the papal city." The palace and fortress are integrated into one, with thick walls and multiple towers guarding its perimeter. Inside, it is divided into the old palace and the new palace: the old palace, built during the reign of Benedict XII, is simple and sturdy, with a strong defensive character; the new palace, expanded by Clement VI, is magnificent and grand, representing mature Gothic architecture, including the over-50-meter-long great chapel within its walls. Historical calamities have scattered most of the interior furnishings, making the architecture itself the main attraction—Giovannetti's frescoes on the domes and walls of the Saint Martial and Saint John chapels, the full-wall hunting scenes in the pope's study "Hall of the Stag," along with the lofty and spacious conference hall and the hall where cardinals once convened to elect the pope, still evoke the grandeur of the past. The tour route is quite long, with most halls now featuring plain stone walls, though the two small frescoed chapels and the "Hall of the Stag" are particularly worth close attention. The spacious halls make good use of the multimedia tablets available for virtual reconstructions, allowing visitors to "see" the original furnishings. From the palace's elevated terrace, you can enjoy panoramic views of the old town's red-tiled roofs and the Rhône River, with the nearby Pont Saint-Bénézet also fully visible. The Avignon Theatre Festival, held every summer, uses the palace courtyard as one of its main stages—visiting during this time lets you experience the lively atmosphere that takes over the old town.

Luma Arles

A cultural center, it is a multidisciplinary arts platform designed to support artists and creators in all fields.

Museum of ancient Arles and Provence

The Archaeological Museum of Arles in Provence mainly displays artifacts from pre-Roman sites. The mosaics, sarcophagi and other exhibits on display here are astonishingly beautiful, and there are models that reproduce the city of Arles in Roman times. Although this is a museum that exhibits ancient artifacts, the exterior decoration design is very modern and avant-garde, and the triangular building frame and the novel and unique entryway are also the highlights of the visit.

Abbaye de Montmajour

At the time of its initial construction, Montmajour was an island some 43 meters above the marshland terrain that surrounded it. However, a lot has changed since the building's humble beginnings. This ticket lets you explore one of the most fascinating sites around Arles. You'll understand why Van Gogh made it one of his subjects, and how more than a thousand years of development shaped its purpose and its grand exterior.

The Arles market