Arles

After a day and night in Avignon, we set off to Arles, a town known as a one-time residence of van Gogh and of beautifully preserved Roman ruins. Arles is equally proud of both heritages, and thus street plaques for several different walking tours criss-cross the town (much like the owl foot-path plaques in Dijon). We continued to have beautiful weather as we hit up the main sights:

Les Arènes, Arles' Roman amphitheater

The amphitheater was constructed around 90 AD and could seat about 20,000 people. After seeing the Coliseum in Rome just about anything else pales in comparison, but Arles' version is still quite well preserved (and undergoing renovation at the moment, but I mostly managed to avoid pictures of tarps and scaffoldings). It's still used for bullfights in the summer, hence the bleachers that have since replaced the worn- or carried-away stones that once served as seats. Apparently during the 17th century houses were built inside, back before renovation and restoration of old ruins and monuments became fashionable.

Le Théâtre Antique

Speaking of the days back before preservation of ruins was fashionable, the main reason the Antique Theatre is such a poor representation of its former glory is because people used it is a convenient source of construction materials, and like the Amphitheater, built in and around it. It too is still used today for concerts, movie projections, and live theatre.

Café la Nuit, supposedly the model for van Gogh's Café Terrace at Night

Les Alyscamps, Arles' biggest necropolis

There's more to this necropolis than my picture captures; there's a long, sarcophagi-lined walk that leads up to it. Dating back to the 4th century, it housed Arles' first bishops and is more famous today for being featured in some of Gaugin's and van Gogh's paintings.

Le Cloître Saint-Triomphe

Fittingly right next to the Eglise Saint-Triomphe, this 12th and 14th century cloister was built to accommodate the monks' daily lives. Although both church and cloister are right on the main square next to the hôtel de ville (mayor's office), the cloister was surprisingly quiet and peaceful. Half-dozing for a few moments up on the roof (behind the little arrow-slits in the photo), I managed to get my first quasi-sunburn of the year.