Set on the banks of the Rhone River 20 mi/30 km south of Avignon, Arles is where Vincent van Gogh lived and painted during the last months of his life. The painting of his bedroom in Arles is among his best-known works. The Fondation Vincent van Gogh operates a museum in the Palais de Luppe that pays tribute to the artist whose tormented life ended in Arles. There you can absorb an extraordinary collection of modern art, from Jasper Johns and Robert Motherwell to Henri Cartier-Bresson and David Hockney.
In addition, the town has wonderful churches, museums, Roman ruins (theater, baths and forum) and a Roman arena (still in use, 20 centuries after opening day). There are three notable museums to visit. First is the Musee D'Arles, built on the ruins of a Roman circus, where you will find a presentation and explanation of the archaeological research in the city. The second museum, the Musee Arletan, illustrates through artifacts and art the lives of the provincial peasants of the 19th century. Finally, the Musee Reattu is a fine-arts museum with a collection that includes photographs from Henri Cartier-Bresson, as well as works from Picasso.
Arles is also the gateway to the marshy La Camargue delta, a nature reserve famed for its black bulls, white horses and unique flora and fauna. On the last Sunday of April, the town sponsors a rodeo called the Fete des Gardians, and during Easter weekend, the town holds bullfights in its Roman arena (the bulls are not killed). Other cultural events include the Arles Festival of traditional parades, dances and songs in late June-early July and the International Festival of Photography (the National School of Photography is there) in July.
