ARLES, France
(pronounced 'arl')
This was the perfect city to spend the night it - perfect jumping off point to Pont du Gard, Orange, Les Baux, Avignon, and others
We just so happened to come during a market day and it was perfect. For breakfast we got a baguette and cheese and pretended we were locals who did this everyday! I love French cheese and I don't think I'll ever be able to eat an American baguette again! I have been so spoiled!
Republic Square (Place de la République)
The lions at the base of the obelisk are the cities slogan (kind of) "the gentle lion".
Here is a close-up of the entrance to the St. Trophime Church. Above the door is a carving where Christ sits in the center, in majesty, surrounded by symbols of the 4 evangelists. The winged man is Matthew, the winged lion is Mark, the ox is Luke, and the eagle is John.
Some remaining Roman columns
Above: Ruins of a the Arles Roman Theater - was able to seat 10,000
Below: Roman Arena
This arena had gladiators fighting with animals 2,000 yrs ago, just like the Colosseum in Rome. It is still in use today, they have just put modern day stands over top the original to protect the original. It seats 20,000, but not according to social class like back in ancient Roman times.
I loved these arches!
And, of course, the view from the arena! There is Arles!
When, not all of Arles, there are a lot of sights that focus on a very famous artist who lived here and cut his ear off here - Vincent Van Gogh! A lot of the old buildings are painted bright colors in tribute to Van Gogh but at the time he painted the buildings, they were not those bright colors, just in his paintings. He is also buried here, thanks to his sister-in-law, right next to his brother.
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