arles | benvengudo provence hotel & restaurant

Unesco World Heritage listed city of Arles, 2000 years of history... Information provided by your Provence hotel and restaurant, Benvengudo...

Located only 20 kilometres from Benvengudo lays Arles, a strategic spot at the heart of Provence, and an historical town loved by Roman Emperors, Kings and artists.

The central Provence location of Benvengudo makes it your ideal Arles hotel & restaurant, allowing you to enjoy easy trips to the city, returning to the peace and tranquility of your hotel in Les Baux.

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Arles features

Established around 600 BC by the Greeks, Arles, like Marseille and other towns in the area, became Roman when conquered by Emperor Julius Cesar in 46 BC. This led to the first Golden Age of the city, then dubbed « Little Rome in Gaul ».

Serving as a major port, Arles was of considerable importance to the Romans and possessed numerous Romanesque monuments, including an amphitheatre, triumphal arch, Roman circus, theatre and ramparts surrounding the city. Today, some of these buildings (or their remains) are still visible and well preserved, which put Arles on the prestigious UNESCO World Heritage list in 1981.

During the late Roman Empire, Arles became renowned as a religious and cultural centre, leading to another era of prosperity. However, the medieval invasions brought the city to ruins and Arles was rebuilt during the 12th century.

Set on the Rhone River, Arles remained an important regional port until the arrival of the railway in the 19th century.

Today, Arles comprises 50.000 habitants.

From a cultural point of view, Arles includes major archaeological sites and monuments, most of them dating from the period of the Roman Empire. It also hosts a superb museum of ancient history, the Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antique, displaying one of the best collections of Roman sarcophagi to be found anywhere outside Rome, as well as other masterpieces. Other Arles museums focus on local Provence traditions and customs, and the French national school of photography is also located in the city.

Arles is also famous for having inspired major artists, Vincent Van Gogh being the most illustrious of them. During his stay in Arles, he produced more than 300 paintings, including some of his most famous ones such as The Night Café and the Yellow Room. Attracted by the luminosity of Provence, Vincent stayed 15 months in Arles and still today his presence can be felt everywhere. In 1856 the local poet Frédéric Mistral created the Félibrige, a literary movement designed to protect and promote the Provencal language. He was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1904 and built the Museon Arlaten, which still exhibits Provencal folkloric items and explains daily life in Provence.

What to do in Arles

A trip to Arles will delight the historical amateur!

The Roman amphitheatre (the arena), the Roman theatre, the Cryptoportico (subterranean vaults of the Roman Forum), the Roman baths of Constantine, the remains of the Roman circus, the cloister and portal of St. Trophime’s and the Alyscamps cemetery... These historical wonders are a must on your next visit to Arles.

Provencal traditions are still respected and carefully followed by the Arles population. As a festival city, not a month goes by without an important event! The Easter bullfighting Feria, held in the Arles arena, is a major local event attracting thousands of visitors to the city.

Arles' markets are also a way to mingle with the locals and experience that special atmosphere for which Provence is so famous.

The friendly staff at your Arles hotel & restaurant will be able to guide you during your next stay.

Videos

Below are a few videos covering Arles and offering some additional information. Please note Benvengudo does not accept any liability for their content.

Arles Patrimoine Mondial de l'Humanité
(very good snapshot of Arles, its history and traditions - musical background)


Arles Global Treasures
(focus on historical Arles monuments - in English)


A day in Arles
(excerpts from a ballad in Arles - musical background)


Benvengudo is your ideal choice amongst all the Arles hotels. Located in the heart of Provence, our boutique hotel offers easy access to the delightful village of Les Baux de Provence. Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, Arles, Avignon are nearby and Marseille International Airport is just over an hour away... See all the Provence attractions, events and historical locations that surround us. Make your online Provence hotel reservation, enquire online or call our friendly Reservations Team on ++33 (0)4 90 54 32 54 to book. Browse our classic Provence hotel accommodation rooms or explore our Provence hotel specials, packages and deals for your next Provence holidays, romantic getaways or weekend and mid-week escapes.