SATURDAY APRIL 14th, ROUTE 1 :

ARLES : TOPOGRAPHY AND LANDMARKS

This road is a first approach of the topography of the city, it will enable you to be directed in the various districts and streets and to recognize quitckly the main monuments.

The city was originally built on a little rock hill situated on the south part of a curve of the Rhône river, on the north side a little suburb named Trinquetaille is known since Antiquity. A bridge, the “pont de Trinquetaille”, connects the two parts of the city.

Along the Rhône, in the north part and from west to east, 3 banks (quais), named Quai de la Roquette, Quai Max Dormoy and Quai du 8 mai 1945 allow a very pleasant walk with a beautiful sight on the city.

The railway station (Gare SNCF) is located on the north-east, as well as the Bus Station, the place Lamartine and the Porte de la Cavalerie.

On the south and the west part 3 main large avenues surround the city : Boulevard Emile Combes (east), Boulevard des Lices (south) and Boulevard Georges Clémenceau (south and west).

The West part of Arles named quartier de la Roquette, is separated from the east part by the rue Gambetta which connects (north-south) the pont de Trinquetaille to the center of the city and the 3 boulevards. On the west part of this district of la Roquette, separated from the city by the Marseille-Nîmes motorway, is located the MAPA (Musée de l’Arles et de la Provence Antiques) and the remains of the Roman circus.

The historical center of Arles (center and east) still has the traditional Roman structure based on the two principal axes which are the décumanus (rue de la Calade/rue Diderot [east-west]) and the cardo (place du Forum / Rue du Palais [north-south]).

For exemple, coming from the place Lamartine by the rue de la Cavalerie and the rue Voltaire, to the center, the first monument met is the Roman Amphitheater (Arenas), built on the rock like is nearest neighbor the Roman theatre. The south-east side of the two monuments is a picturesque district named quartier de l’Hauture, which presents some interesting monuments or remains : roman walls (Montée Vauban and Boulevard Emile Combes), Church of Notre-Dame de la Major, l’Enclos Saint-Césaire and the churches of Saint Blaise and Saint Jean de Moustiers. On the south east part of this district, from the crossroads Boulevard des Lices / Boulevard Emile Combes, by the avenue des Alyscamps, you can reach Les Alyscamps (allée des sarcophages and Church Saint Honorat)

From The Amphitheater and the Theater, the rue de la Calade (n° 18, Centre de Conservation du Livre) leads you (from east to west) towards the Place of the Republic where are situated the Cathedral (Primatiale) Saint Trophime, the cloister, the town hall, the chapelle Sainte Anne and the obelisk.

From the south of this place de la République, by the rue de la République you have a direct access to the Museon Arlaten, and after by the rue du Président Wilson, you can go easily to the Espace Van Gogh (Public library, archives and various) and to the Harmonia Mundi modern bookshop and discshop.

Now, If you cross the magnificient hall of the Town hall (place de la République), walking towards the north part of the old city, the rue du Palais will carry you until the place du Forum, where stands the statue of Frédéric Mistral, the “Café at night” (painted by Van Gogh), the remains of the Forum, the Roman Cryptoportiques and a lot of typical bars and “cafés”, from there, taking the rue du Docteur Fanton, you will go along the ancient jewish district (totally destroyed) where stands the ruined church des Frères Prêcheurs (Dominicans) and will arrive on the Place Nina Berberova where is located the Méjan (Actes Sud Publishing house, modern bookshop and discs, cinema, restaurant, etc.)

From there and going east, a little walk on the Rhône banks (nice sight on Arles and Trinquetaille) along the Quai Max Dormoy, will conduct you until the beginning of the rue du Grand Prieuré where are situated the Roman Thermes de Constantin and the Musée Réattu. By some little streets you can now join the rue du 4 septembre, and have a walk through the numerous old streets of the center.