Arles
Arles is one of the narrated stops on the self-guided Provence audio walking tour in Gingerguide. Plan about ~180 min here. Press play at the spot for its two to three minute story, or ask the AI guide anything about it.
- Type historic
- Suggested visit ~180 min
- Provence Provence guide
About Arles
A Roman city where Van Gogh painted over 200 masterpieces, still dominated by a 1st-century amphitheatre seating 21,000 that is used for bullfights today, and by the ancient Roman necropolis of Les Alyscamps.
Arles is one of the most historically layered cities in France, a Provençal city of 50,000 with Roman remains of the first order, an artistic heritage linked inextricably to Vincent van Gogh, and a living tradition of Provençal culture expressed through its famous féria and the continuation of its Roman amphitheatre for bullfights and concerts. The Roman amphitheatre (Arènes d'Arles), built in the 1st century AD to hold 21,000 spectators, is among the best-preserved in the Roman world. Van Gogh moved to Arles in 1888 and painted over 200 works here in 15 months, including masterpieces like the Night Café, The Yellow House, The Bedroom, and Starry Night (painted from memory of Arles while in Saint-Rémy). The Roman and Romanesque monuments of Arles are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Did you know? Van Gogh painted over 200 works in Arles in just 15 months, including The Bedroom, The Night Café, Starry Night Over the Rhône, and The Yellow House, a creative output that has never been matched for sustained intensity.
How long should you spend at Arles?
Plan about ~180 min at Arles. That is enough to take it in and hear its narrated story; stay longer if it grabs you. The tour is self-guided, so there is no rush.
Is Arles worth visiting?
Arles is one of the 12 sights the Gingerguide team researched and narrated in Provence, so it earns a place on a self-guided walk. Its story explains why it matters, and you can ask the AI guide anything the story leaves open.
Nearby stops in Provence
Hear the story of Arles
Preview the Provence tour free in the Gingerguide app.