Arles is a southern French city that was founded in the 5th century BC. by Greeks who called it Theline. Soon after, Theline was conquered by Celtic tribes and renamed Arelate. In the year 123 BC the city became Roman, and it flourished not least after the city had supported Julius Caesar against Pompey. In the 4th and 5th centuries, the city was visited several times by the emperors of Rome, it became an important administrative city in the western part of the empire, and mighty buildings were erected here. Arles was also an important port city at this time.

In the medieval year 933, Arles became the capital of the Kingdom of Arles, which was created by merging Upper Burgundy with Lower Burgundy. The kingdom lasted until 1033, when it became part of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1178, Frederick Barbarossa was crowned king in Arles, thereby regaining some political importance. Arles became an important trading city with its location on the Rhône, and over the past centuries Arles has been home to many famous artists such as Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh, who was particularly productive during his time in the city from 1888 to 1889.

Today, Arles is both a beautiful and cozy city with fine sights, narrow streets and lovely squares, and you can start a tour of the city from van Gogh’s perspective. His famous painting, Terrasse du Café le Soir, was painted on the Place du Forum, and you can probably recall the atmosphere instantly when you stand on the north-east corner of the square, where the artist took his place. From here you can look south to the Rue du Palais, and then you are back in 1888, when van Gogh saw the same motif.

You can also explore several preserved ruins from Roman times, not least the old amphitheater, Arènes d’Arles (Rond-Point des Arènes), and the Antique Theatre/Theatre Antique (Place Henri de Bornier). The amphitheater measures 136×109 meters with a height of 21 meters and could seat 20,000 spectators for matches and races. In the ancient Roman theater, there were 33 rows of spectators with room for 8,000. Both old Roman sites are relatively well-preserved, and operas are performed in the Arènes d’Arles today, among other things.

The Roman monuments are on UNESCO’s World Heritage List, and they also include Alyscamps, a necropolis that was used for more than 1,500 years. Both Paul Gauguin and Vincent van Gogh have painted motifs from here. On the Place de la République stands the monument Obélisque d’Arles, which is an obelisk from the 4th century. The obelisk was erected under the rule of Emperor Constantine II, and it stood on the then Roman circus.

There are also other sights in the city such as Cathédrale Saint-Trophime d’Arles, which is Arles’ former cathedral. The church was built during the 12th-15th centuries in Romanesque style, and it had the status of a cathedral until 1801, when the episcopal seat was moved to Aix-en-Provence. You can also visit the Musée de l’Arles Antique, which depicts the early history of Arles. Among the many themes and effects in exhibitions are Roman sculptures from the region.