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 …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: 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 which will be taking place until 6th January. I …

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 …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: 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 …

Lunch with a girlfriend is always a treat, but the chance to visit with Patricia Sands twice during her stay in Provence was a gift. On the first occasion, we met at Cuisine de Comptoir, in Arles, a down-to-earth restaurant that serves tartines (open face sandwiches) on pain Poilâne (a …

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 center with a major port. …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: 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 …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: Recently, I met up with local author Bernadette Murphy whose book ‘Van Gogh’s Ear – The True Story’ has been such a success. It was chosen by BBC Radio 4 as their book of the week and was also the subject of a BBC2 TV documentary. …

Contributor blog post by Aixcentric: 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 …

Contributor blog post by Ashley Tinker: 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 …