The Flowered City of 2,000 Years That Inspired Van Gogh. Arles, France
Welcome to this walking tour of Arles. This is my first visit and I am excited to explore with you. Arles was once the capital of a Roman province. The history is everywhere you look. We will see monuments and sites that show how big and important this city was 2,000 years ago. Today Arles is a beautiful Provençal town on the banks of the River Rhône. It is also the gateway to the Camargue region, one of my favorite places in France. Camargue is known for wild horses, flamingos and salt flats. It feels like another world. Arles is the perfect base to explore Camargue with Montpellier and Marseille close by. It is also an easy day trip from Marseille or Montpellier with frequent trains. The River Rhône brings many visitors here on river cruises. Two river cruises boats are docked today so you will see many visitors in the streets. Later I will show you a glimpse of the Rhône flowing through the center of Arles. Like the video to let the world know how much you enjoy
the south of France and its amazing scenery. We are now getting a first look at the Roman Amphitheatre,
one of the great landmarks of Arles. This UNESCO site is one of the best preserved Roman arenas
still standing in France. Built around 90 AD, it could hold 20,000 people,
slightly more than the one in Nîmes. It has two levels of arcades, 60 arches
and a maze of galleries and stairways. After Rome fell it was turned into a fortress,
with houses and chapels built inside. In the 19th century it was cleared and restored
to host events again. Today it is used for bullfights, concerts and shows,
just as it was 2,000 years ago. Its design was inspired by the Colosseum in Rome,
although it was built a little later. The amphitheatre even inspired Van Gogh’s painting
titled “Les Arènes de Arles.” We will learn more about the Van Gogh connection shortly,
as he left a big mark on Arles. This city inspired many of his most famous works,
and there is even an art center dedicated to him. We are now heading to the Roman Theater, or what is left of it,
another UNESCO site here in Arles. The ruins give you a clear idea of its size.
It could seat 8,000 people. That is impressive. We are going around the corner to take a better look
at the theater from another angle. I am visiting on a very warm day in late June.
It is about 32°C (90°F) around midday. It is hot, but I am still enjoying this walk.
I hope you are too as we explore Arles together. We are arriving at Place de la République,
one of the main squares in the city. The centerpiece here is the famous Roman obelisk on the fountain.
It dates back to the 4th century. It was first at the Roman circus in Arles,
and moved here in 1676. The Hôtel de Ville, or Town Hall, is also here
along with the city’s main church. Here is the Church of Saint Trophime,
a beautiful Romanesque church in the heart of Arles. It was built in the 12th century and is named after
an early bishop of Arles. Large statues of apostles and saints flank the entrance,
creating an imposing but fascinating sight. The carvings and statues on its facade show the
Roman Provençal style at its best. Statues of apostles and saints flank the entrance,
giving it a powerful presence. Inside it is cooler and darker with fewer details,
but there is still artwork worth stopping to see. There is restoration work happening today,
as well as on the adjacent cloisters. There is a special event at the Hôtel de Ville today,
right here in the center of Arles. I found many locals dressed in traditional costumes,
recreating historic moments of the city. We are now arriving at the famous Van Gogh café
located on Place du Forum in the heart of Arles. The story of this café is interesting because it recreates
a famous painting he made while living here. That painting is called “Café Terrace at Night”
and is one of his most iconic works. We can see the painting here.
Does the café look similar to Van Gogh’s vision? The café is closed after a court order related to tax evasion,
and it has remained shut since 2023. Tourists still come here every day
to snap photos of this famous spot. There is also a statue of Frédéric Mistral here,
a Provençal poet, Nobel Proze winner, born in a village near Arles. However this was not the real café painted by Van Gogh.
The original was in another part of town. That site was destroyed during the Second World War.
This café is only a recreation, though many think it is the real one. Continuing with Van Gogh, here is the Van Gogh Foundation,
a major art center in the city. It was inaugurated in April 2014 and pays homage to
the work of Vincent Van Gogh in Arles. The foundation also explores his impact on art today,
bringing his work into dialogue with contemporary artists. Its mission from the start was to present Van Gogh’s paintings
alongside modern works to inspire reflection and ideas. We have finally arrived at the shores of the Rhône,
a peaceful and scenic part of Arles. You can see the river cruises that brought visitors to Arles
docked in the background. Are you enjoying the video?
Please let me know what you think of Arles in the comments. We have moved to a different part of the city,
with peaceful streets full of flowers. This was one of the highlights of my visit
and a true surprise for me. This area is called La Roquette, a historic district
that dates back to the Middle Ages. It was once a favorite neighborhood for boatmen
and remains one of the most picturesque in Arles. The streets form a fishbone pattern lined with narrow houses,
many of them tall and full of character. Architectural details on the facades and niches on the corners
make you want to wander and explore. This area was also home to artisans and merchants,
and wealthy families built grand townhouses here. This maze of streets is a pleasure to explore.
I loved discovering every corner of La Roquette. Like the video if you are enjoying the flowered streets of Arles
and want to see more walks like this. It is lunchtime and many visitors are enjoying a meal,
escaping the heat under shaded squares. One of the many features of Arles are its arbored squares,
perfect for lunch in the summer. This is Place Voltaire, a popular spot to relax
and enjoy the cool shade. We are concluding our tour of Arles here.
I hope you enjoyed it. Drop a like if you did. Please subscribe for more beautiful tours.
Thank you for watching and goodbye.
Arles Walking Tour 4K | Virtual Tour in South of France
❗Captions available “CC” 🔔 Subscribe for more videos
Join me on a walking tour of Arles, France, a 2,000-year-old Provençal city famous for its Roman monuments and as the place that inspired Vincent Van Gogh. This immersive 4K travel video with natural ambient sounds takes you through the charming streets, squares, and landmarks of this beautiful destination in southern France.
We’ll visit the UNESCO World Heritage Roman Amphitheatre, the Roman Theatre, the Church of Saint-Trophime, and the medieval cloisters. You’ll also see the famous Café Terrace at Night location painted by Van Gogh, the Van Gogh Foundation art center, and the picturesque flowered streets of La Roquette.
Arles is located on the Rhône River in the Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur region, making it an ideal day trip from Marseille, Avignon, Montpellier, or Nîmes. The city is also a perfect base to explore the unique landscapes of the Camargue region.
📍 Location: Arles, Provence, France
📹 Format: 4K ambient sounds only – no commentary
Filmed, June 2025
🕒 Chapters:
00:00 Welcome to Arles, France
05:45 Exploring the Roman Monuments
19:06 Saint-Trophime Church & Cloisters
24:33 Van Gogh’s World in Arles
31:52 Rhône River & La Roquette District
51:51 Shaded Squares & Closing the Tour
➡️ Watch more walking tours in France: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLgQG_ow69z0nfY_Z-SBM2T__9Iz2kAEwq
➡️ Subscribe for more 4K walking tours and city walks: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOnnz9VfoxsTac3XjqI9AFg?sub_confirmation=1
Music from #Uppbeat (free for Creators!):
https://uppbeat.io/t/giulio-fazio/reverie-dete
License code: UW3VISTVQNKX8IAV
#Arles #WalkingTour #Provence #FranceTravel #CityWalk
19 Comments
반고흐 그는 목사의 아들로 태어났지만 기독교에 별다른 의지처를 발견 못하고
많은 방황과 고뇌의 삶을 살다갔지요 그가 만약 불교를 접했다면 참 도움이 많이됬을텐데 그에게 생은 바로 감옥과 같았고 거기서 구원의
길은 바로 그림을 그리는 행위 즉 예술이 바로 구원이 되었지요 나쁘진 않으나 불교의 부처님말씀을 단한번이라도 접했다면 그의 불안하고
분열된 정신이 어쩌면 평화와 안식과 위로를 받았을지도 모르겠어요 안타까워요
소리에 놀라지 않는 사자와 같이
그물에 걸리지 않는 바람과 같이
흙탕물에 더럽혀지지 않는 연꽃과 같이
무소의 뿔처럼 혼자서 가라!
Enjoyed it? Hit 𝐋𝐈𝐊𝐄 👍 and 𝐒𝐔𝐁𝐒𝐂𝐑𝐈𝐁𝐄 🔔 — thanks for the support! 🙏
🇧🇷 Gostou do vídeo? Deixa o LIKE 👍 e se INSCREVA 🔔 — valeu pelo apoio! 🙏
🇩🇪 Hat es dir gefallen? Gib ein LIKE 👍 und ABONNIERE 🔔 — danke für den Support! 🙏
🇫🇷 Vous avez aimé ? LIKE 👍 et ABONNEZ-VOUS 🔔 — merci pour le soutien ! 🙏
🇯🇵 気に入りましたか？LIKE 👍 と チャンネル登録 🔔 を — 応援ありがとう！🙏
🇷🇺 Понравилось? ЛАЙК 👍 и ПОДПИСКА 🔔 — спасибо за поддержку! 🙏
🇸🇦 أعجبك؟ إعجاب 👍 واشتراك 🔔 — شكرًا للدعم! 🙏
🤠 Во время битвы боевая группа, поняв, что отстоять его не удастся, ушла и никто не знает ее судьбу. Как знать! Может жива и хранит в сердцах! 👍🥃🍷
🤠🌷🦈Орленок, Орленок! Взлети выше Солнца и Землю с высот огляди!..
Пылающая
.
Пылай, и мир ответит светом.
Сжигай и темь и чёрный лёд.
Оплавь и солнце! И, как летом,
пускай с него стекает мёд,
и полнит соты дня, ладоней,
златя все зеркальца озёр.
Пускай и бронзовые кони
ольются жёлтой охрой с гор.
Цвети охапками космеи,
лучами трогая весь мир.
Теплом все шири поосеяв,
твори из красок дивный пир.
И каждый взор искру впитает,
ответит ночи блеском глаз.
Два неба. Зеркалом играет
земля, под куполом стелясь.
И от ветров огни взорвутся,
и станут солнцем, как одно.
Как только птицы распоются,
заглянешь им в моё окно.
👍👣
Obrigada por compartilhar lugares lindos como esse pequeno e charmoso como Arles e são meus preferidos ❤Brasil 🇧🇷
Мені дуже подобається юг Франції❤😊
Дуже красиве старовине місто❤😊
Я підписалася, поставила лайк, прогулянка дуже сподобалася. Дякую велике Вам за Вашу роботу, Ви нам доставляєте задоврлення❤😊
Località veramente incantevole! Ottimo lavoro, complimenti!
I am booked on AMA Waterways next July 1.5 days in Arles also disembarking. Love this video so informative. Something special to walk in 2000+ year old footsteps of Romans, Monks, Popes and artists such as Van Gogh and Cezanne ❤
Lively….congratulações….❤
Thank you for this lovely, quiet walk – it has been many years since I had the pleasure of visiting Arles, and I loved seeing it again, with all its' quirky vistas, incredible history and beautiful flowers. We were lucky enough to visit when all the fields of sunflowers were in full bloom, on the way into the city – what a wonderful memory. Thank you again!
There is beauty in every frame you take. It's impossible not to love this place.
Obrigada! Muito obrigada!
Adorei 🤩🇧🇷
is one not allowed to criticize Arles?
do not visit arles