Arles, Provence/Camargue, France

photo of the day: Arles arena/amphithéâtre

 

It's a 20 min train ride from Avignon to Arles.  John thought we were going slow, but clocked us at 92mph.  When compared to our home base of Avignon, Arles is gritty; walk carefully, watching  for potholes and poop.

However, there are many highlights: 

St Trophime Cloisters 

My unexpected highlight were the delicate columns that were scavenged from the ancient Roman theater and the very old delicate sculptures on the corner columns in the cloisters.  Built in the 12th century and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, the Saint Trophime cloister is a remarkable example of Romanesque and Provencal architecture. We learned about the differences between the Byzantine figures in the capitals under the rounded Romanesque arches (12 century) and the more modern figure un the pointed Gothic arches (14th century)

Saint Trophime Church with its Roman arch facade is stunning and it's under renovation October 2025. The church and cloister of Saint-Trophime are one of the most remarkable examples of Provençal Romanesque art. Famous for the quality of its statuary, this place conducive to silence and welcomes you in the intimacy of its stones. (I cribbed that from a website, provence-alpes-cotedazur.com)   It's named after the 3rd century bishop of Arles. 

The interior shares beautiful 17th century tapestries of the life of Mary,  a welcome respite from the traditional Stations of the Cross. The expressions on the saint's faces were so kind.  

old paintings remain on some walls in side chapels

I was amazed at the relic collection. https://www.youtube.com/shorts/s6D8gGxZi7A is my video of the collection.  There is a guide to who's who and what parts are there. 

Do you see the skull inside the housing? 

Arles Arena/Amphithéâtre

Nicely rebuilt Roman arena has been in use for over 2 millennia. During the Middle Ages, the stones were used to build dwellings inside the walls. Towers was added and offer great views of the Alpilles/mountains on a clear day like we enjoyed. (photos not as good as what we saw)

The arena is used today as a bullring. Watched a terrific Rick Steves YouTube and learned that the bulls are mostly wild except to be branded  and live on the Camargue/flood plains of the Rhone River. They are smaller than their Spanish kin. The game is taking the red thread that is tied between the two horns. There are many matadors in the ring at the same time and they leap over the pipe and red wall to safety. 

Lunch was exceptional at Rick Steves recommended L’Épicerie du Cloître daily special Pavé de Cabillaud, sauce beurre Blanc wazabi et riz range de Camargue for 22E (Cod steak burned butter wasabi and local rice from the flood plains of the Camargue) We added both  chocolate mousse/cream and a lemon tiramisu for dessert