Roman Arles
Nicknamed « Little Rome » by the Romans themselves, Arles certainly lives up to its reputation. Don’t miss a visit to the impressive Arènes Roman arena, now a UNESCO World Heritage Site or the Alyscamps, also referred to as the Champs Elysées of Arles: one of the Western world’s most prestigious mausoleums until the Middle Ages. Built in 1 BC, the Théâtre Antique is the venue for many summer shows – you can still admire two magnificent Roman columns comprising the remains of the stage wall. The Musée Départemental de l’Arles Antique museum shines the spotlight on Arles’ former status as one of the major towns of Roman Gaul. The only known portrait of Julius Caesar, as well as an incredibly well-preserved, 31-metre Roman barge retrieved from the Rhône river in 2010, are exhibited there.
