Discover Arles Arles is an excellent example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. It has some impressive Roman monuments dating back to the 1st century BC. These include the arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries). During the 4th century, Arles experienced a …

Cultural Arles The newly-created arts and cultural centre, LUMA, based in the old railway sheds, has a handful of shows this summer and fall. Headlining them is Gilbert & George: THE GREAT EXHIBITION (1971-2016), an 80-work retrospective that will occur until 6th January. I also like the sound of ‘Une Histoire …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: ‘BACK TO THE FUTURE’ is the theme for the 49th Rencontres d’Arles photography exhibition. ‘This year, you are invited to cross space and time with a breathtaking, celestial journey across the ages. Photography is often the best-placed medium for registering all the shocks that remind us the …

This market is so big you need a little map! Forgive my silly map-drawing skills… Arles Market on Saturdays The Arles Saturday market is one of the largest in Provence. Each of the 450 vendors have an average of 5-metre large stands. If you arrive early, you’ll see the jostling …

The Roman History of Arles What’s 2,000 years old, 100 feet long and used to float? If you guessed a Roman barge, you win! And you can see one now in the Arles Museum of Antiquity. Arles was once an important Roman town, a trading centre with a significant port. …

Aixcentric is a bit in ‘catch-up mode’ having spent the summer in cooler climes. But on my return, I was very keen to see the work of Annie Liebovitz in Arles (on until September 24th). Firstly to see the exhibition of the early work of this important American photographerbut also …

There are quite a few photography exhibitions on in Provence right now….let’s head west first to the ones in Arles. The Musée Reattu, which is building a formidable collection of photography is currently exhibiting ‘Anatomie du Paysage‘, 130 natural or urban landscapes from some well-known photographers. This museum is in …

Le Fête des Gardians is the annual festival in Arles celebrating the lifestyle and traditions of the gardians (basically the French version of cowboys that rear bulls for delicious daube provençal). There’s an enormous parade, blessings of the animals, a queen is elected and to top it all off …Continue …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Just having posted an image from the current Van Gogh exhibition in Arles reminded me that there are big changes afoot for the town. Van Gogh’s view of Arles; it’s hardly changed in 125 years. The Luma Foundation is building a cultural complex on the …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Van Gogh was so incredibly productive that, while in Arles and in Saint-Remy, he produced some 500 works; so it’s always seemed sad that there was, until recently, only one of his paintings in Provence (in Avignon). Two more have arrived (one in Aix and …