Arles

Arles is a city and commune in southern France, located in the Bouches-du-Rhône department of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region. It sits on the left bank of the Rhône River, near the Mediterranean coast, at the western edge of the Camargue. The town has a long history dating to the Roman period and today has about fifty thousand inhabitants.

In antiquity, Arles developed as a major Roman city and later served as a provincial capital in Gallia Narbonensis. Its later medieval and religious history left a distinctive architectural record, and the city became a center of trade and culture in the region. The historic core preserves an ensemble of well-preserved Roman and Romanesque monuments.

Arles was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1981 under the title Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments. Notable structures include the Arles Amphitheatre (Les Arènes), the Théâtre Antique, the Alyscamps Roman necropolis, and the Church of St. Trophime, renowned for its sculpted Romanesque portal.

Culturally, Arles hosts the Rencontres d'Arles, one of the world's leading photography festivals, established in 1969. The town is also associated with Vincent van Gogh, who lived in Arles from 1888 to 1889 and produced a prolific body of paintings during his stay. The surrounding Camargue region contributes to local agriculture and tourism, with landscapes of wetlands, salt flats, and traditional livestock.

Transport links include rail and road connections to Marseille, Nîmes, and beyond, making Arles a popular base for visitors exploring Provence and the Camargue.

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