Arles

Arles (in Occitan Of Provence: Arle according to the traditional standard or the Norme mistralienne) is a common French, located in the department of the Rhone delta and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure, located on an axis Nimes (to 27 km in the west) - Marseilles (to 80 km in the east).
This city dates of more than 2500 years and its inhabitants is called Arlésiens. Today, the commune of Arles has the effect of having the largest surface of Metropolitan France.

Etymology, heraldic and currencies

Origin

The name of Arles drift of Arelate , Celtic word of origin meaning place located close to the pond , by reference to the marshy grounds which surround the city. Towards 50 av. J.C, Jules César still calls the city Arelate in the Bellum Civile (I, 36,4) :

Naves longas Arelate number XII facere instituit
(It made build in Arles twelve men-of-war)

Heraldic

Currencies

Caesar de Nostradamus in its History and chronicle of Provence , speaks about a seal of this city appearing in an old charter. This lead seal carries on a side the figure of a circumvented lion, with this currency: NOBILIS IN PRIMIS DICI SOLET WILL GO LEONIS; other side, a castle with three turns, that of the medium more raised, with this other currency: URBS ARELATENSIS EAST HOSTIBUS HOSTIS AND ENSIS.
It seems that the most known currency: AB WILL GO LEONIS was a currency of challenge; the city threatened its enemies of the anger of the lion which personified it. Certain authors admit that the currency: AB WILL GO LEONIS must be supplemented as follows: DEFENDS OUR DOMINATES! (of the anger of the lion of our enemies, defend to us Seigneur!) It becomes, in this case, currency of invocation; this interpretation is however minoritaire.
One also finds

  • ALMA LEONIS URI ARELATENSIS HOSTIBUS EAST, NISI AB WILL GO LEONIS.
  • SENATUS POPULUSQUE FLORENTINUS.
But the text: AB WILL GO LEONIS, URBS ARELATENSIS EAST HOSTIBUS HOSTIS AND ENSIS, more complete, corresponds to the generally allowed currency of the city. Frederic Mistral comments on it and in criticism the claim.

Geography

Situation

the city

Arles east on the the Rhone, where its delta starts, and thus constitutes the door of the the Camargue. It is called the capital camarguaise. The initial city built to the VI E on a rock dominating left bank of the Large Rhone (coordinated geographical: ) developed then in the west, on the Right Bank (district of Trinquetaille) then in the South (districts of the Old man-Borough, the Rocket and Barriol) and in North (Montplaisir districts and of Trébon). The presence of marsh in the East limited its development in this direction. The town of Arles is strongly marked by the presence of the Rhone which divides the city in two and which remains still even nowadays, a threat at the time of the risings.

the commune

The commune of Arles is extended from all the communes of metropolitan France. With approximately 759 km ², it is wider than the Territoire of Belfort (102 communes), and as much as Paris and the three joined together departments of its outskirts of the city (124 communes).

Its territory includes/understands three remarkable natural spaces:

In addition to the city itself located at the north of the territory, the commune of Arles includes many boroughs and hamlets moved away, in particular Saline-with-Giraud and Raphèle-the-Arles like Saliers, Gimeaux, Moulés and Farmhouse-Thibert.

Climate

a Mediterranean climate

Arles is subjected to the Mediterranean Climat with one estival, hot long period and dries, of the soft winters, an important sunning and irregular precipitations. Its climate comprises characteristics related to the geographical location of the city in the south of the Rhone-native corridor between the Cevennes and the Alps of the South. Thus the autumns, and to a lesser extent the periods April at the beginning of May, are sprinkled with short but important precipitations and the sometimes rigorous winters because of the mistral, strong wind and cold which gives to the landscapes arlésiens their exceptional luminosity.

The Mediterranean rains are related on depressions which are formed on the gulf of Genoa or to broad of the Balearic Islands. East winds in south-east heats, charged with water since crossing the Mediterranean, meet the obstacle of the Cevennes, or less often, of the Alps, rise in contact with the cold air of altitude in sometimes enormous Cumulo-nimbus and burst in brutal storms. These storms, which generally occur in autumn, can cause precipitations of 200 mm per day and sometimes more. Monthly pluviometry also has a great variability. The localization of the rains varies according to the respective establishment of the anticyclone and on the depression and their intensity depends on the volume of clouds created by the moisture of the winds and of course of the differences in temperatures.

In winter the temperatures frequently go down under zero over periods being able to exceed several weeks sometimes. One can recall the winters 1929, 1944, 1956, 1963, 1986 with records around - 15°/-18°.

Temperatures

Many days of freezing:
On the level of the extremes: August 1st, 2001, at the station Arles Turn of Valat , 38,7°C

Pluviometry

Annual height: 524 mm/an, one of weakest of France
Many days of rain (+ 1 mm/jour): approximately 60 jours/an

The variability of the rains is very important: thus the figures go from 344 mm in 1945 to 1063 mm in 1960, that is to say variations of more than 200%; in the same way the statistics reveal as the dry periods or very dry can extend on two or three years, as between 1945 and 1947.
On the level of the extremes:

  • on September 8th, 2005, 111 mmm of water,
  • on September 22nd, 2003 at the station Arles Trinquetaille , 265 mm (RRmax in 24:00 of 6hTU-6hTU).

Sunning

Sunning: > 2900h /an

History

See also: History of Arles

Before the Romans

See also: History of Arles at the time pre-Roman

Oppidum Celto-Ligurian, the site of Arles is attended by Mediterranean tradesmen. With the foundation of Marseilles (600 av. J. - C.), the city initially organizes at the end of the O C in emporion Greek then in colony called Théliné . At the time of the Celtic push of the beginning of the IV E, the city returns under indigenous domination and takes again its patronym of Arelate . During the II E, the conflicts which oppose Marseilles and the confederation salyenne cause in the city of extensive damage.

After the crushing of the confederation in 122 av. JC, the Romans settle in Provence. Arles is probably attached to the Gaulle founded Narbonnese in 118 av. JC, although certain historians include as of this time the city arlésienne in the zone of influence of Marseilles.

Roman epoch

See also: History of Arles at the time Roman

Supporting in 49 av. JC Jules César against Marseilles, Arles is rewarded and becomes a Roman colony by it as of 46 av. JC. Its initial fortune goes back to this time.

It profits during almost three centuries from several successive town-plannings during which it embellishes its many monuments and protects itself with its ramparts. Christianity settles in the city and its first bishop historically known, Marcianus, is mentioned as of 254 in a letter of Saint Cyprien.

After the destruction of the years 250 - 270, that the historical tradition charges to the Alamans, the urban development begins again only at the beginning of the 4th century, under the emperor Constantin, with a new political and administrative growth, the city becoming a residence of the emperor then. He remains there on several occasions and organizes there the council of 314.

Probably in 407, the imperial administration moves the prefecture of the court of Gaules located hitherto at Trier, on Arles which consequently knows a true political rebirth then ecclesiastical one century exactly after Constantin Ier. However, this new role does not exclude the threats from invasions of federate the Visigoths installed in Aquitaine since 418. Finally, after many attempts, Arles east taken by Euric and becomes wisigothic city in 476.

Early middle ages

See also: History of Arles at the time high-medieval

Arles, city mérovingienne

After a confused situation at the beginning of the 6th century, Arles passes under protectorate Ostrogoth in 508, then becomes franque city in 536. It undergoes the Peste of Justinien as of 543 as well as many seats. It is invested on several occasions in particular in 570, 574, 587 and the population gathers then in a reduced enclosure. One also announces a rising devastator in 580 and famines, in particular that of 585.

The next century, the city is managed by the representatives of the branches mérovingiennes, either within the framework of unified Provence, or in a way individualized by a duke. As of the end of the 7th century, the trade between the Occident and the Orient is made nothing any more but by the Jewish traders , probably of the Radhanites, only bonds between the Islam and the Chrétienté which use the free ports of Arles and Marseilles.

Taken again in hands Carolingian

About the middle of the Years 710, disorders are announced, followed starting from the Années 720 by raids Sarrasins. After the revolt in 735 - 739 of the duke Mauronte combined with the Moors, Arles and Avignon are plundered and put at the step with rigor by the Carolingian capacity. However at the end of the century, the Carolingian Renaissance appears which is translated in the city by the development of the trade and the handing-over into culture of the territory.

Creation of the kingdom of Provence

But as of the death of Charlemagne, the history of Arles falls under the process of disintegration of the Carolingian Empire. With the liking of the successions an autonomous territory called appears kingdom of Provence. Turbulent dukes then direct successively the area of Arles plundered in 842 and 850 by the Sarrasins then in 859 by the Normands. Finally on October 15th 879, Boson is made crown King de Provence.

I dynasty of the counts de Provence

At the next century, Hugues of Arles settles as of 911 in Arles of which it makes the capital of his kingdom. After the death of Hugues in 948, one sees appearing under the distant authority of Conrad, I dynasty of the counts de Provence, with the count Guillaume Ier, who by driving out the Sarrasins in 973, émancipe of the suzerainty of king de Bourgogne and founds feudality arlésienne. As of 980, returned peace brings the conditions of an economic revival and the fame of the count, a transitory political radiation. Arles, capital of the county of Provence, enters the Middle Ages.

The Middle Ages

See also: History of Arles at the time medieval

11th century: weakening of the capacity comtal

As of the first years of the 11th century, the counts of Provence are not any more able to hold great chalk-linings in respect and with died of Roubaud one period of disorders opens, worsened by the power of the big families, the militarization of the company arlésienne and fastening, in 1032, with the Saint Germanic Roman Empire. Another factor of weakening: the Gregorian Reform. According to the Peace of God, it leads after 1078 to a true political crisis, between the weakened count and the archbishop of Arles Aicard excommunicated but supported by the city and the count of Toulouse, which will be regulated only after 1096. On the economic plan, the movement of recovery started as of the end of the 10th century continuous after the year 1000. Grounds are given in culture and the city develops outside the walls. After 1050, the clearings begin again and the city opens to the Italian tradesmen.

12th century: creation of the consulate and economic advancement

XIIe century arlésien is occupied by complex adventures where clash Gènes and Pisa and where are opposed the families of Barcelona and of Toulouse supported by their respective allies arlésiens. In this context of political instability partly related to the installation disputed in 1112 of the 2 {{E}} dynasty of the counts de Provence which will be one of the causes of the Guerres Baussenques, Arles sees being born as of 1131 a movement from urban emancipation called Consulat. Concern of the emperor Frederic Barberousse who made there crown King d' Arles in 1178, the city n the other hand loses towards 1180 his role of capital comtale to the profit of Aix considered to be less turbulent. In prolongation of preceding prosperity Arles profits during this century from an economic development with in particular rise from its maritime activities and the trade from salt and the vermilion which enriches the caste by the urban knights. On the legal level, novel methods appear and at the religious level, the city accommodates as of the Années 1140 the military Ordres and embellishes many Romance churches.

13th century: advent of the 1 dynasty of Anjou and end of inclinations of autonomy

The movement of urban emancipation continues at the 13th always favoured century by the emperor Germanic and opposed by new actors the such Church confronted with the Albigensian, the princes franciliens and the French royalty. Thus after the conflicts of 1203 - 1218 related to the context of the first Albigensian Crusade, the city directs in 1220 towards a type of particular government, the podestarie which encourages the territorial extension of the community. In 1235 - 1238 with the Brotherhood of the buckets then in 1246 - 1250 when the allied city with Avignon, Marseilles and Barral of the Beams founds a league, Arles asserts an autonomy with tendency anticlerical before capitulating in 1251 in front of Charles of Anjou. Capétiens after having set up an effective administration and meddles, leave for Italy accompanied by the nobility arlésienne in 1265. On the political plan, 1251 mark a rupture. The city loses its consuls replaced by comtaux civils servant, like all its goods and its nobility, formerly proud, from now on will seek the honors in Italy, center of the new capacity comtal. The 13th century arlésien is also that of the Ordres beggars which settle of number in the city. Lastly, on the economic plan prosperity continues and at the end of the century Arles reaches its demographic optimum of the Middle Ages with approximately 15.000 inhabitants.

The late Middle Ages

Begun in 1306 with the reception of the driven out Jews of the Languedoc, the late Middle Ages arlésien end in the pogrom of 1484 followed expulsion of the Jews of the city, after the fastening of the city to the Kingdom of France in 1483. Between these two dates, Arles will live a deep decline with low demographic of 5.000 inhabitants at the end of the Années 1430 before a slow recovery in second half of the 15th century does not appear.

difficulties: the trilogy of the late Middle Ages

After the installation of the I {{era}} dynasty Angevine in 1250, the city undergoes a general backward flow: initially political with the profit of Aix, capital of the County, then ecclesiastical with the profit of Avignon and finally commercial to the profit of Avignon and Marseilles. This phenomenon is amplified as from the years 1340-1350 by a demographic collapse related to the famous trilogy: wars, plagues and food shortages. For Arles, the food shortage is an accident, the Peste a periodic evil and the war a permanent threat, coming from the continent at the 14th century then of the sea until the end of the Years 1460. Thus Arles is besieged in 1368 by Duguesclin representing the interests of the capétien Louis of Anjou, taken in 1384 by the Tuchins at the time of the war of succession of the queen Jeanne and threatened on several occasions at the 15th century by the Catalan galères. June 4th 1365, between two conflicts, Charles IV king de Bohême, wanting to restore the Kingdom of Arles, made there crown king in the cathedral Saint-Trophime. the transformations

This difficult period involves a larger communal solidarity, which excludes however the Jews, with the multiplication of the brotherhoods , kinds of associations laic, charitable and funerary which structure with the daily newspaper the life of the arlésiens. On the political plan, the wars related to the installation of the second dynasty Angevine, make it possible the town of find in 1385 part of its rights alienated in 1251. And paradoxically in this depressed context, the extremely petitioning country of Arles in labor becomes a center of immigration. This migratory flux will be at the origin of the resumption and the repopulation of the Années 1470. The demographic crisis of the end of XIVe century, transforms however the economy arlésienne with an agriculture which declines with the profit of the breeding and the trade of the skins and wool. Attracted by this trade, the presence of papacy in Avignon and the farms tax, of the Italian traders settle in the city and some found powerful families there.

At the end of the Middle Ages, when Provence is attached to the Kingdom of France, the company arlésienne became a pastoral company, with a many nobility and rich person who will dominate the city until the Révolution.

Old mode

See also: History of Arles under the Old Mode

16th century

The annexation of Arles in France is done without difficulty and in 1536 Arlésiens testify to their attachment to their recent fatherland by stopping the second invasion of Provence of Charles Quint. Returned peace, Arles grows rich thanks to its vast soil gradually given in culture. It is of this time which the first modern attempts go back from drying of the marshes and irrigation with in particular the Canal of Craponne dug in the years 1550. This boom results in the artistic development of the city. Several public monuments and of the private mansions of Renaissance style are then built. However this prosperity is completed with the beginning of the year 1560 with the wars of religion. These religious and political disorders, punctuated by the royal visit of Charles IX and his mother Catherine de Médicis in autumn 1564 will end only with the crowning of Henri IV. With this civil war natural disasters are added, plagues and floods. After all these tests the financial position of Arles is catastrophic and the city must consequently be solved to sell part of the communal goods.

17th century

The sale by the town of part of its immense territory following the Wars of religion, reveals in the Camargue of land vast domains which take part in the agricultural reconquest of this soil deserted since from the decades. Towards 1625, favorable climatic conditions allow an increase in production and start again the idea of the draining of the marshes. In return to the enrichment of the noble classes and bougeoises, arts develop and the city is avoided of a great number of private mansions. In the same way, of the notable modifications are brought to the religious establishments. In this architectural revival the new town hall completed in emerges 1675, then as from 1679, the consuls undertake a policy of alignment which modifies the aspect of the downtown area considerably. Déchue of any political role, Arles does not shine any more but by the glare of sound archbishop's palace. The pastoral dash impelled by the Concile of Thirty is relayed in the city by active archbishops. It results a multiplication from it from religious congregations while the population increase encourages with a restoration of the parishes.

Fine of the old mode

To the turning of the century, Arles will join again with an episode of tensions and catastrophes with the risks of invasion of the troops of the Duc of Savoy, the winter 1709, the bad weather and the floods of the Années 1700 and 1710 and especially the Peste of 1721 which carries more than 40% of the population. However, starting from 1725 agriculture profits from more lenient conditions and the city continues its architectural embellishment. The nobility makes a reception favorable to the Parisian models and the hotels of arlésiennes big families are then built such as those of Quiqueran de Beaujeu or Roure. This embellishment is also found in the public construction industry. This richness is accompanied by some crises of subsistence as that of January 2nd 1752 which bursts following a corn shortage generated by the speculation. In the last years of the Old mode, the city turns to industry. The port activity related essentially to the traffic of wood, stones, coal, fodder and corns, also ensures the prosperity of the city. Consequently the city extends and of significant communal work, for the first time since the beginning of the 14th century, are carried out outside the medieval enclosure with in particular in 1775 the filling of the ditches of the String and in 1781, the transfer of the urban cemeteries outside the city.

Revolution

See also: History of Arles under the Revolution

In 1788 - 1789, a hard winter plunges in a deep misery a population overpowered by the tax. Riots burst, and after having challenged their deputies with the General states, Arlésiens are made main of the municipality. August 4th they deposit their consuls and a new council is formed, composed representatives of the nobility, clergy, various middle-class and corporations.
As of the first months of the Revolution, Pierre-Antoine Antonelle, of aristocratic origin and mythical chief of the Monnaidiers (in favor of the Revolution) becomes the most important protagonist of the French revolution in Arles. Elected official on February 15th 1790 mayor of the city, thanks to the voices of the craftsmen and of the sailors, and savagely anticlerical, it opposes in the city the archbishop Monseigneur of Lau and his partisans, the Chiffonistes . During its mandate, the village of Fontvieille becomes common autonomous by deduction of the territory arlésien.
In this climate of daily violence, the two clans clash. The elections of November 1791 give the victory to Chiffone taken along by the new mayor Pierre Antoine Loys. The pursued monnaidiers leave the city to hide in the Camargue and the winners transform the city into fortified camp royaliste.
March 21st 1792, Arles is declared in a state of rebellion against the Republic. An army of Marseillais is put then on the way and between on March 27th in a city deserted during the night by the chiffonists. In punishment of the feelings legitimists of the city, the national Convention condemns the town of Arles to shave its ramparts, which will be carried out only partially.

….

After the Revolution

See also: History of Arles after the Revolution

XIXe century: the change working downtown

At the 19th century, Arles is marked by the epidemics of Choléra. The city also undergoes deep changes: it redécouvre its past historical and changes large agricultural and harbor borough, working downtown.

Towards 1824 the baron de Chartrouse, mayor of Arles undertakes to give in value the inheritance built by releasing the Arènes, then the ancient theater. Still important port at the beginning of the 19th century, Arles loses as of 1848 its monopoly of navigation on the Low-Rhone because of the railroads (line Paris-Lyon-Marseilles) then competition of Saint-Louis. The City thus empties its sailors who represented with their families nearly one the third of the population. The city however finds a second breath in industry. The workshops of the railroads which recover the Alyscamps attract as of 1848 a new population. A little later, of the workshops of naval construction appear with Barriol. The rural population, which constituted 40% more of the inhabitants of the city towards 1850, leaves the city. In less than one half-century Arles becomes a working city. As of the Years 1830, the city changes while obtaining new equipment. But the architectural, neo-classic decoration at the beginning of the 19th century, becomes more eclectic after 1850. The city also develops in periphery by extension of suburbs and its territory is emphasized. In 1856, industrialists build Saline-with-Giraud in the south of the commune for the exploitation of salt then in 1892, two railway lines are created for the development of the the Camargue.

XXe century

The beginning of the 20th century, marked by the viticultural crises and the War of 14-18, sees a withdrawal of the cultures on the territory arlésien for the benefit of the breeding. The city which celebrates the poet of the Félibre Frederic Mistral and its Musée Arlaten, obtains some large hotels, in particular on the place of the Forum, which precede the tourist orientation of the city. In the south of the city the district Chabourlet, a new district with the architecture inspired of the style Floral art, appears.
In 1944, the bombardments of the Second world war destroy more than one quarter of its inhabitant, mainly in the districts of Trinquetaille, the Cavalerie and Trébon, i.e. around the bridges and of the railway station. The rebuilding is directed by the architects Pierre Vago and Jean Van Vigom. At the agricultural level, the Riziculture develops in the Camargue as of the end of the the Forties.
Very tested in the Years 1980 by suppressions of employment industrialists, the city is directed towards cultural activities and acquires a strong notoriety in the fields related to the image. The International meetings of Photography, created in 1970 become an international demonstration and publishers, arts persons and musical, settle in the city.

City and districts

Town planning

While undergoing many town-plannings, antiquity at the time contemporary, the center town of the city, fixed geographically as of the end of the 12th century, knew to preserve a patrimonial richness which does of them one of the most attended tourist places of Provence. The peripheral districts of the city more recent, except that of Trinquetaille, reflect the installations undertaken with the S and the social transformations of the city.

Antiquity The city is one of the principal sites of Celtic Mediterranean. It was arranged as of the Greek time, but the first known town-planning goes back to, under the emperor Auguste. It structure still nowadays the center town. Altered several times under the Flaviens, the Early empire at the time of the Antonins, the emperor Constantin and the emperors of the late Antiquity, the city keeps an incomparable trace of its Roman last rich person, since it became imperial Résidence. The city also obtains as of the S Christian pertaining to worship places which replace the Roman temples. With most extremely of its expansion, towards the first quarter of the 5th century the city is populated probably than nowadays.

the Middle Ages

The Early middle ages is one period of insecurity and epidemics. The city reorganizes in an enclosure reduced by exploiting like careers the monuments of the city and by transforming the amphitheater into parcelled out fortified town. The end of the 10th century marks the beginning of an economic revival during which Arles will develop out of its walls; new districts called boroughs are built thus in the vicinity immediate of the city which it 12th century will integrate them at the end in new ramparts surrounding an increased city, whose limits are still visible nowadays through the vestiges of the medieval enclosure and the boulevards surrounding the old city. The end of the 12th century is also characterized by an urban embellishment with many Romance churches. After the installation in 1251 of the first dynasty Angevine in Provence, the decline of the city and especially terrible the plague of 1348 stop the development of the community brutally. During more than two centuries, the city will live locked up in its walls with like urban main concerns, the improvement of the religious frame and the maintenance of the ramparts requested until the wars of religion.

Modern times

The city changes initially in the quality of the frame and the refitting of the center town, with the first reorganizations of the Renaissance, the private mansions of the S the noble ones and middle-class men enriched by the exploitation by agricultural domains in the Camargue and Crau, the restoration of the frame diocesan at the time of the Counter-Reformation and in 1675, the construction of the town hall. As from 1679, a policy of alignment is undertaken by the consuls. This policy of alignment which continues until the Révolution, modifies the aspect of the downtown area considerably.

Since the Revolution

The redécouvre city its monuments which are gradually released. It increases beyond its medieval enclosure, is industrialized and obtained many public equipment enabling him to transform large agricultural borough into a working city, then touristique.
The 19th century thus sees the realization of important urban alteration work: release and restoration of the Roman monuments as of the years 1820 - 1830, construction of public edifices and new bridges on the Rhone, installation of public places, realization of the railway infrastructures of line PLM towards 1845 - 1850, construction of the quays after the catastrophic floods of 1841 and 1856 and boring of new ways. At the 20th century, town planning arlésien concentrates on the improvement of the roadway system, the allotment of new residential districts to the periphery of the medieval city (Trébon, Montplaisir, Alyscamps, Barriol…) and rebuilding works following the bombardments of 1944. Infrastructures are also carried out as from the years 1970 in order to improve the life of the arlésiens and the urban and interurban automobile transit.

Current location and projects

Current location

One traditionally distinguishes the districts from the old city (Quoted, Hauture, Méjan, Roquette and Cavalry/Portagnel), i.e. those located inside the medieval enclosure, of the peripheral districts for the majority of a more recent development, carried out in two principal waves: end of the 19th century and years 1960-1970. Thus on the plan opposite of the beginning of the 20th century, only the districts of the downtown area and that of Trinquetaille on Right Bank of the Rhone appear.

Projects

With the dated April 29th 2003, the projects defined by the municipality are articulated around a better adaptation of the city to, development of the activities and centres of population, and the automobile improvement lanes of the equipment.

The district of the Town hall

The old district of the City is located at the center of the city, between the districts of Méjan and the Rocket in the west, Hauture in the east and Portagnel and of the Cavalry in the North-East. To north, it extends to the Rhone and to the south it is limited by the boulevard of the Strings.

The district of the City is the political and religious center city since Antiquity. This denomination, of medieval origin, from now on is seldom used; it is called now district of the town hall in reference to the one of his most known buildings.

Today, it is a district which is characterized at the same time by its architectural richness and its animation in particular at the time of the Féria, which explains why it is as snuffed of Arlésiens as of the visitors. Like the whole of the center town, it belongs to the safeguarded sector.

Hauture

The district of Hauture (or Auture) is located on the highest prominence of the city overhanging the surrounding deltaic plain. To the south-east of the historical center, it is limited to north by the districts Portagnel/Cavalerie, in the west by the City, the east by Mouleyres and the south by the boulevard of the Strings.

It is about the old working of Arles. Occupied as of by natives who trade with the Greek colony of Marseilles, it is organized with in a proto-city salyenne.

Today Hauture, like the whole of the center town appears in the perimeter of the safeguarded sector. The richness of its past, its approval and the peace of its small streets make of it a very snuffed district of the tourists.

Méjan

The district of Méjan (“of the medium”) located between the districts of the City at the east and the south, of the Rocket in the west and the Rhone in north occupies a modest surface of the center of the city; its habitat which is distinguished little from the close gum districts its historical identity.

Its history goes back to the medieval rebirth of the city.

Today, with the arrival of the editions Actes Sud, the district took a cultural orientation. The district of Méjan also fits in the perimeter of the safeguarded sector.

The Rocket

The district of the Rocket , called formerly, Borough of the Piglet or Old man-Borough corresponds to the south-western part of the medieval city. It is located nowadays between the the Rhone, the Clemenceau boulevard and the street Gambetta.

The name of Bourg of the Porcelet goes back to the 11th century when this district was held in stronghold by these lords arlésiens. The term of Old man-Borough is allotted to him in opposition to the district of the north of Arles created shortly after and called the Borough-Nine . The toponym of the Rocket could as for him make echo either with the ruins of the circus whose substructions are found in the extreme south of this district, or with a plant pushing on the walls.

After having been a district of fishermen and trades related to the river until the arrival of the railroad, the district of the Rocket loses its vitality and becomes a zone of reception for the many newcomers. Today, while preserving its identity with its narrow houses and its private mansions, this district of some 2.500 inhabitants takes a particularly heterogeneous character and forms of village; he also knows a spectacular revival with his restorations and the establishment of many shops and trade.

Cavalry/Portagnel

The district of the Cavalry/Portagnel , called the Borough-Nine formerly, is located at the north of the center town in prolongation of the districts of the City and Hauture. In north and the east, the Lamartine place and the ways of railroad mark of it the border with the district of Trébon/Montplaisir. Lastly, the the Rhone limits it to the west.

This district dates from the 11th century, when the city started to develop out of its enclosure of the Early middle ages. Second urban extension after the Old man-Borough , it took well naturally the name of Borough-Nine . The name of Cavalry , later, evokes the presence of the Templiers which settle in the north of the city towards 1140, and that of Portagnel the name of an old door of the city, the Porte Agnel .

Following the bombardments of 1944, the district of the Cavalry/Portagnel presents a double face. In the southern part, one finds the lanes bordered of narrow houses of the old center and in the northern part one observes the modern frame inherited the rebuildings of the post-war period.

Peripheral districts

In the south: districts of Chabourlet, Barriol/Plan-of-Borough and Prong The name of the district of Barriol , in the south-west of the city, probably comes from Antoine Barriol, owner of boat and later trader, who lives close to the door of the Rocket at the 18th century.

Nowadays, it is a residential district dedicated primarily to the collective habitat. On the economic plan the district of Barriol shelters the seat of the Chamber of commerce and Industry as well as the Palate of the Congresses and since 1995, the Musée of Arles and Provence antiques. Separated from the center town by the fast track Marseilles-Nimes (RN113), this district is integrated unfortunately little into the urban center. In 1999, its population, with that of the districts close to the Six-month periods and the Plan-of-Borough, approaches the 7.000 inhabitants.

In north: districts of Trébon and Montplaisir

Trébon

Trébon, in the north of Arles, is as of antiquity an arable land. At the 12th century, it urbanizes in the vicinity immediate of the city and profits at the 17th century from work from draining from the Dutchman Jean Van Ens. The district becomes populated then slowly and it is only after 1960 that the district finds its aspect residential current, with an important park of collective habitat.

Montplaisir

The district close to Montplaisir, located at the North-East of Arles, also experienced a relatively late development to him, primarily rural. It is parcelled out only starting from the beginning of the 20th century, mainly with many residences suburban and equipped in the years 1960, several equipment (church, school, cemetery).

Today, these two districts are supplemented in the north of the agglomeration by a vast industrial park. With the census of 1999, with more than 9.000 inhabitants, they represent approximately a quarter of the urban population of the commune of Arles.

In the east

  • the Alyscamps /Bigot

  • Mouleyrès/Griffeuille

In the west, on Right Bank of the Large Rhone, with the head of the delta and the the Camargue

Campaigns arlésiennes

The campaigns arlésiennes are very wide and represent the major part of the communal territory. They are organized in four quite distinct natural units:
  • in north, the plain of Trébon and the Alpilles,
  • in the east, the Crau,
  • and in the south, the the Camargue whose commune of Arles has most of the surface (with the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, second vaster commune of Metropolitan France, half less wide than Arles).

The plain of Trébon

Alpilles

Alpilles arlésiennes, which corresponds to the south of this small solid mass, start starting from the monastery of Montmajour, built on a small island overhanging a marshy plain drained on several occasions under the Romans, at the 10th century then with the S and finally at the 19th century. They skirt north to the east, the villages of Fontvielle, with the mill of Daudet, of the Paradou, Maussane-les-Alpilles and Mouriès.

It is primarily about an undulating rocky zone with a sparse habitat, mainly directed towards tourism and of the agricultural productions like the plantations of olive-trees.

Crau

The Crau is an alluvial zone consisted the Durance before this one is not captured by the the Rhone towards 70000 front JC, is located at the east of Arles and extends until the pond from Berre. Crau arlésienne includes/understands the villages of Bridge-of-Crau, Raphèle and Moulès and is next to in the east the commune of Saint-Martin-with-Crau. It extends on approximately 20  000 hectares of arable lands devoted to the market gardenings and fruit-bearing, the production of hay AOC and the ovine breeding.
Importance of the fruit-bearing cultures (approximately 3.000 hectares of pêchers and apricot trees) and market-gardening, majority under greenhouses, class this territory among one of the principal exporting European early product areas. The hay of Crau, which profits from a AOC, also contributes to famous of the territory of Arles-Crau. 100.000 tons are produced there annually on approximately 13  000 hectares of prairies.
Crau since always pastoral ground, raises today more 100  000 sheep which transplant each year of the plain towards the mountain pastures. The ovine race most widespread is the Mérinos of Arles. The fame of the Crau-Alpilles lamb is due to its mode of breeding: in the open air, with grass and cereals produced on the spot.

The Camargue

The the Camargue arlésienne, deltaic ground, depends administratively on the canton-west of the Arrondissement of Arles. It extends approximately on 40.000 hectares from north in south-east from the delta from the the Rhone and on left bank from the Large-Rhone. It is limited to north and in the west by the Small-Rhone, the south by the commune of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the Vaccarès, the the Mediterranean and the commune of Fos and with the west by the Canton of Arles-Is (the plain of Crau). It includes/understands the villages of Gimeaux, Saliers, Albaron, Paty, Gageron, Farmhouse-Thibert, Sambuc and until 2008, Saline-with-Giraud.

True island, only five bridges and a vat connect it to Languedoc and the remainder of Provence: the bridge of Saint-Gilles, two bridges of Fourques and two bridges of Arles in north, and the Vat of Barcarin in the south. Because of the risks of flood, its habitat is sparse, made up mainly of farmhouse and some villages for the majority very old frames on the Ségonaux or of the artificial hillocks generally dating from the Roman epoch. The most important agglomeration Saline-of-Giraud, the only one to have an industrial calling, is recent: it was created only in 1856 to place the population exploiting the saline ones. For a long time, of the Greek time at the 18th century, Arlésiens build turns there to control the trade and the ships going up the arms of the Rhone.

The Camargue arlésienne is structured the North-West in south-east according to the nature of the grounds and their salinity. One thus finds grounds cereal, market-gardening and of breeding, rice plantations, zones marshy and salins.
Efforts are made for labelliser and to qualify the productions of the Camargue. AOC Taureau of the Camargue recognizes the quality of the meat of the bulls raised in the delta. In spite of the recent difficulties, the die Riz (11.200 ha on the commune of Arles in 2003) develops thanks to a new factory carried out by Southern Cereals in 2005.
The village of Saline-of-Giraud and its saline, with Solvay and group it Salins is the chemical pole of Arles.
Contrary to the common neighbor of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, the Camargue arlésienne does not have very developed tourist activities yet. Indeed, it profits neither from a littoral village nor of very easy accesses to the sea. However, its beach known as of Arles receives popular tourism and the site of Beauduc, composed of illegally built huts, some residents at the year and estivants local. This insulation however was an essential argument during the creation of the Regional natural park of the Camargue, which attracts with the surrounding marshes the amateurs ornithologists.

The economic future of this area depends on the installation of the Camargue: the stock management, in particular of fresh water of the Rhone between actors with the sometimes opposite interests (producers of rice and owners of saline, for example), will be a major challenge.

Economy

Demography

historical Evolution

As of the year 310 Arles, imperial City, account more than 10.000 inhabitants and a century, become later prefecture of Gaules, at least 40  000 inhabitants. This figure will not be exceeded any more until the beginning of the Années 1960.

recent Evolution

After the second world war the population growth is relatively considerable, in particular in the years 1960 following the repatriation of the French of Algeria. On the other hand as from 1975, contrary in the majority of the close agglomerations which see their population growing, that of Arles remains practically stable, thus reflecting the relative economic stagnation of the city. However the growth appears again after 1999.

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Main features

Origin and mobility

the 50.500 Arlésiens listed in 1999 like their area and have evil to leave there: in ten years (1990 - 1999), only 20% of the population left the commune against an average of 34% at the national level.

Pattern of the settlement

In 1999, 75% of the arlésiens live on hardly 10% of the communal territory. The human occupation of the largest commune of France is particularly irregular. The densities can exceed 10  there; 000 h/km ², whereas they reach hardly 10  h/km ² in the Camargue or Crau.

Structure of the population

the general ageing of the French population is found in Arles. Between 1990 and 1999, the percentage of less than 20 years decreased while that of more than 60 years progressed until accounting for 23% of the population of the commune. But these situations remain contrasted according to the districts: so in Barriol, 40% of the population do not have less than 20 years, this figure is not any more but of 16% in the center-ville.

In 1999, the census INSEE watch which the town of Arles is slightly feminized and older than the national average.

Employment

The active population having an employment amounts to 17.057 including 7.320 women, which shows an employment relatively feminized. This employment located at 78% in the commune corresponds primarily to employee jobs (14.563). Broadly active population having an employment, and this in all the categories, decreased between 1990 and 1999.
The professional structure of the commune is characterized by a proportion of workmen/employed, craftsmen/commercial/heads of undertaking higher than that noted at the national level. On the other hand, the executives are relatively fewer in Arles than elsewhere in France (10% against 13%). Lastly, the farmers remain represented well, especially compared to remainder of the department: 3% against 1%.
Unemployment remains there higher than the national average even if in the commune, this figure knew a noticeable decrease to reach 12% at the end of 2003.

Formation and various

On the training level, the figures of 1999 reflect a tendency observed for a long time in Arles and in the area: 25% of Arlésiens are without diploma and only 13% made higher learning (against respectively 18% and 16% at the national level).

With regard to the means of transport, the arlésiens privilege the private car (13.095), the walking (1.861) and the two wheels (981); interesting detail: a big number of arlésiens (977) work on the place even of their residence.

Transport infrastructures

the road

Arles is connected to Nimes and Marseilles in the West-east direction by the highway A54 (E80) which is intersected between Arles and Saint-Martin-with-Crau by the fast track N113. North, the trunk road N570 gives access Avignon and the highway A7.

the railroad

The station of Arles, located at the north of the city in the district of Trébon, originates in an intervention of the writer-deputy Lamartine. It is built in 1848 during the creation of the Avignon-Marseilles line become then the line Paris-Lyon-Marseilles or PLM. It is completely destroyed in 1944 by the allied bombardments but is rebuilt shortly after. The rail traffic, formerly important, strongly fell since the creation of the new layout TGV Paris-Marseilles which passing by Aix, does not serve any more the city. Trains using the old lines always give access to the network of the SNCF with a direct daily access to Paris in the two directions. Buses ensure however the shuttles with station TGV of Avignon. It is managed by the Chamber of commerce and of industry of the Country of Arles.

the sea routes

First port downstream from the the Rhone, the river port of Arles extends to north from the city on 11 hectares and includes/understands 4  000 m ² of enclosed and kept warehouses. It also has 40 hectares for the reception of the companies of transport and logistics. It can accommodate ships until 3  000 tons, and ensures more than thirty connections: Eastern European country, the Maghreb, Northern Europe and South, the Close East. Its design, with the railways on board quay, allows the connection water-rail by accepting the rail traffic of the coach isolated the complete train.

air routes

Arles does not have its own airport. However, taking into account its particularly favorable geographical location, the city has several accesses to the air lines. It is not indeed located that to 25 km of Garons (airport of Nimes), 65 km of Marignane (airport of Marseilles), and 75 km of Fréjorgues (airport of Montpellier). Moreover, the access to all these airports is very practical because not requiring any urban crossing.

Activities

The economy arlésienne, favoured as of Antiquity by the proximity of the the Rhone then by the railway line Paris-Lyon-Marseilles (PLM) created in the middle of the 19th century, did not profit in the years 1960 from the great policies from installation as Fos in the east and the littoral Languedoc IEN in the west. Moreover, it remains with the variation of the new layout TGV Paris-Marseilles which passes by Aix. However, located at the crossroads of the axes Rhone-native and Mediterranean, the city offers a potential very diversified to conforter.
Arles, third city of the Rhone delta, is with 18.640 employment only the fifth pole of use of the department. Arlésiens employment is as a large majority of the uses of services which represent indeed more than 75% of employment. The Intensive agriculture and the Industrie in difficulty only offer on their side a little more than 4.000 employee jobs. Since 1999, the private employee job progresses more quickly. At the beginning 2007, there are approximately 2100 companies, including approximately 380 secondary schools located in the commune of Arles. On this number, less than two dozen exceed the 50 salariés.
Within the framework of its development, Arles took part in January 2004 in the creation of the Communauté of agglomeration the Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette. This populated community of 75.939 inhabitants (census 1999) gathers in addition to Arles, 4 other communes: Boulbon, Saint-Martin-with-Crau, Saint-Pierre-with-Mézoargues and Tarascon. Agriculture

The Agriculture of the commune of Arles constitutes a support for many industrial activities. It profits from exceptional climatic conditions (300 days of annual sunning) and from a know-how inherited a long tradition. It is characterized by the Traçabilité of its production (what enables him to be as of today in phase with waitings of the actors of the concerned food chain of safety), the choice of the Productivité with intensive cultures in the Camargue, in the north of the city between Arles and Tarascon and in Crau on the side of Saint-Martin-with-Crau and the choice of quality by AOC (Hay of Crau, Taureaux of the Camargue) and a IGP (Rice of the Camargue). It is organized mainly around the following productions: fruit and vegetables, rice and cereals, the hay of Crau, the meat (bulls, sheep), the transformation and the conservation.
Arles within the framework of the Communauté of agglomeration the Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette also proposes complementary agricultural productions such as those associated with olives (olives, oils) or with the vine of the valley of the Baux.

Industry

The industrial activities of Arles which represent approximately 2.000 employee jobs relate to mainly the sectors of chemistry, the mechanical engineering, the paper mill and food industries.

Services

The services represent the majority of employment. Sub-prefecture, the city offers more 2  600 employment in the administration, and 4  300 in education or health. As a tourist city, it also profits from important commercial equipment which proposes more 2  700 employment. Finally almost 4  900 employment is related to the other commercial services: real insurances, banks, activities…

Arles is the seat of the Chamber of commerce and industry of the Country of Arles. It manages the river port of Arles as well as the Palate of the Congresses which accommodates congresses as well, seminars, conventions that professional living rooms or general public. It manages also several training centres of which WILL SUIT it and Supinfocom located at Arles.

Administration

Mayors of Arles

The load of perpetual mayor whose Louis XIV establishes the Office S in all the cities of the kingdom is created in 1693, then removed in 1708, date on which reappear the consuls. The function of mayor is restored with the Révolution and since 1790, the mayors are elected.

Until 1900

Among the former mayors of Arles, there are two famous characters: at the 18th century, Pierre-Antoine d' Antonelle, mayor of 1790 with 1791, which is the first elected mayor and who has the effect of being an at the same time aristocrat and Jacobin, and with the next century, the baron de Chartrouse, mayor of 1824 with 1830 and lit botanist, who undertakes the first work of release of the Roman monuments.

Since 1900

The mandate of the Socialist Charles Raymond Privat (1947 - 1971) who lasted 24 years is longest of the history of Arles. Among curiosities of the local political life, the city traditionally on the left elects in 1983 a mayor of right-hand side little time after the swing on the left of France. And in 1995 a similar phenomenon, this time in opposite direction, reproduces.

Sources

Administrative structures

Cantons

Arles is the chief town of two cantons: the Canton of Arles-Is and the Canton of Arles-West

Districts

Arles is the seat of a district of the Rhone delta, the Arrondissement of Arles, which includes/understands 9 cantons and 36 communes including 4 of more than 10.000 inhabitants for a total population of 180.948 inhabitants (census 1999).

the Community of agglomeration

Arles belongs to the Communauté of agglomeration the Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette since its in January 2004 creation. This populated community of 75.939 inhabitants (census 1999) gathers in addition to Arles, 4 other communes: Boulbon, Saint-Martin-with-Crau, Saint-Pierre-with-Mézoargues and Tarascon.

Services and activities

Urban transport

The urban transport, interurban and the school service roads are managed in Arles since 1984 by the STAR, subsidiary of the group KEOLIS, which with the responsibility for the joint grid system of the Community of Arles-Crau-Camargue-Montagnette agglomeration.
In 2004, the company has 18 buses which traverse each year more than 600.000 kilometers while transporting 2.000.000 travellers, and its manpower includes/understands 47 people including 29 drivers and 7 conducting, 2 receptionists, a mechanical workshop maintenance and the services administratifs.
À Arles, there are 6 urban lines of bus and the majority of the close agglomerations are accessible by these means of transport.

Teaching

In 2003-2004, 11.529 Arlésiens were provided education for.

Primary school education

has Arles, thirty-one establishments accommodate more than 5.000 children, of the nursery school to the primary education.

Secondary education

the city is equipped with four public colleges (Amp, Mistral, Morel and Van Gogh) and with a private college (Saint-Charles) which accommodate almost 3.000 pupils.

Arles also has three colleges (Montmajour, Pasquet and Jeanne d' Arc) and the two vocational schools (Privat and Perdiguier) which accommodate on their side nearly 2.000 pupils.

Higher education

higher education arlésien includes/understands many BTS, university formations (first and second cycle in right, conservation of the inheritance, cultural activities and image processing), and specialized schools, of which most known is the 3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of the photography of Arles.
In 2004, approximately 1.000 students follow a higher formation in the city.

the drop-down list below contains a more complete list of the higher formations of the town of Arles.

Health

The town of Arles has of a center hôpitalier and two private clinics:
the hospital Joseph Imbert

Ordered by the Ministry for health and conceived by the architects Paul Nelson (1895-1979) with A. Remondet, P. Devinoy and J.P. Sabatie, the hospital Joseph Imbert, name of a former mayor of the town of Arles, is built between 1965 and 1974 on a piece of twenty hectares to approximately two kilometers of the historical center in the district of Prong. It gathers on the same site a general hospital of 490 beds, a psychiatric hospital, outpatients' clinics, and an important pole of “prevention” intended for the education of health: preventive medicine, medical information and family planning

the Jeanne-D private clinic' Arc

It is located in the district of Alyscamps (7, rue Nicolas-Saboly)

the medical private clinic mutualist Jean-Paoli

social Work of the mutual insurance company MCA (19, rue Pierre-Renaudel)

Sports

  • Athlétic Club Arlésien France:
    La town of Arles counts a football club named the AC Arles evolving/moving for the season 2007-2008 in National. It town of origin of the footballers Djibril Cissé and Gaël Givet

  • Rugby Club Arlésien France

Communal budget

Source: Budget of 2004 on the site of the town hall of Arles

The communal budget of 2004 was the first calculated according to the entry in exercise of the community of agglomeration (Arles-Saint Martin-of-Crau, Tarascon, Boulbon, Saint- Pierre-of-Mézoargues). In 2004, the budget arised as follows: the receipts (rate of local tax system)

the expenditure

Budget operational

  • 81 million for the operation of the municipal services including 44 million in personnel expenditure, with like principal stations the green education-youth-sports (15,3 million) and cleanliness-spaces (11,3 million).
  • 11 million distributed in subsidies and various participations
  • 7 million under the loads of health entrusted by the municipality to the Communal center of social action.
  • 15 million for the debt servicing.

Budget Investment

  • 18 million under the registered operations, including 8 million with the structuring projects (Médiapôle, repair of the amphitheater and the ancient theater, new college Mistral,….)
  • 1,4 million in the rain safety plan
  • 7,8 million in development projects and proximity, of which schools and roadway system.

Inheritance and cultural activities

Arles is classified town of Art and History.

A dozen monuments are registered on the list of 1840 drawn up by Prosper Mérimée. Most of the monuments is protected as of first half of the 20th century. On the territory of Arles there are 44 classified historic buildings and 48 monuments registered with the additional inventory at January 1st, 2006. The great majority of these buildings is located in the historical center.

The Roman and Romance monuments of the town of Arles are registered on the list of the World heritage of humanity since 1981.

Since the autumn 2006, it is the whole of the old center of the town of Arles which is registered on the prestigious list of the world heritage of the humanity established by UNESCO. The label " Arles, monuments Roman and romans" is from now on the exact wording of the inheritance arlésien.

Public inheritance

The historical public inheritance arlésien is composed primarily of Roman and medieval monuments. It is supplemented by some major achievements of the Rebirth and the traditional period; it also includes/understands more contemporary buildings. The majority are classified or registered like historic buildings and are reproduced on the list of the World heritage of humanity.

Principal buildings of the public inheritance arlésien:

the forum

the forum of Arles is the first great urban realization towards 30-20 av. J-C of the Roman colony founded in 46 av. J. - C to thank Arelate for its support for César.

cyptoportic the

Substructions of the forum built at the same time as this last.

the ancient theater

the ancient theater of Arles east built at the end of Ier front century JC, just after the foundation of the Roman colony. Begun towards 40/30 av. J. - C, it is completed about the year 12 av. J. - C; the theater falls under the squaring Roman, on the Decumanus and belonged to the town-planning Augustéen. First excavations in 1651 will emerge famous the " Venus of Arles " (marble statue, currently in Louvre)

the arenas

the Arènes of Arles are a Roman Amphithéâtre built towards 80/90, shortly after the Colisée of Rome of which they take again the main features. They include/understand a system of evacuation by many access passages, a central scene of elliptic form surrounded by steps, arcades, here on two levels, the whole for an overall length of 136 meters. This building accommodates demonstrations today primarily taurines.

the circus

the Roman circus of Arles is the vastest Roman building of the city; it is built starting from 149, under the Antonins for the races of tanks.
Alyscamps

Initially, of the Roman epoch to the the Middle Ages, Alyscamps were a Christian Nécropole pagan then located at the south-eastern entry of the city of Arles on the way Aurélia, i.e. apart from the city like the majority of the necropoles Romans. They included/understood very many sarcophagi of which there does not remain alas today, following plunderings and of work, which few things.

the thermal baths of Constantin

They are built at the beginning of the 4th century on the edges of the Rhone, when Constantin Ier resided at Arles; they were interpreted a long time wrongly like the ruins of a Roman palate.
a more complete list of the public monuments is accessible by the drop-down list below.

Religious heritage

The religious heritage arlésien includes/understands many buildings and vestiges, Roman epoch until the 18th century, including one great part are classified with the historic buildings (CMH) or registered with the inventory of the historic buildings (IIMH); some also appear in the world heritage of UNESCO (PMU).

Principal religious buildings arlésiens:

  • Enclosed of Saint-Césaire and cathedral paléo-Christian woman, oldest buildings and religious vestiges of the city
  • Church of the Major
  • Church Saint-Césaire
  • Holy-Luce Church Saint-Trophime
  • Cloister of Saint-Trophime
  • Commanderie
  • Large priory of Malta, today become the Museum Réattu
  • Church of Dominican the
  • Church Holy-Anne
a more complete list of the religious monuments is accessible by the below unrolling box.

Private inheritance

The private inheritance arlésien includes/understands primarily private mansions built for the majority with the Renaissance or the traditional Period. Most of these buildings is classified with the historic buildings (CMH) or is registered with the inventory of the historic buildings (IIMH).

Principal buildings of the private inheritance arlésien:

  • Hotel Laval Castellane, formerly college of the Jesuits, today Museum Arlaten
  • Courteous Hotel of Langlade, today seat of the sub-prefecture of Arles
  • Hotel Quiqueran de Beaujeu, today 3Ecole Nationale Sup3erieure of photography
  • Rotunda, initially club of the nobility arlésienne, transformed into Protestant temple
  • Hotel Barrême de Manville
  • Glassmaking of Trinquetaille, a rare example of industrial architecture of the 18th century.

a more complete list of the buildings composing the private inheritance arlésien is accessible by the drop-down list below.

Cultural heritage

the museums

Museum of Arles and Provence antiques

the museum of Arles and Provence antiques is a museum built in 1995, in a modern building designed by the architect Henri Ciriani, on the peninsula where old the Roman circus was to shelter the archaeological collections particularly rich of the city. (Official site). It contains many sarcophagi, in particular the second collection of sarcophagi paléochrétiens after that of the museums of the Vatican.

Museon Arlaten

Museon Arlaten is in the center of the city (29, rue de la République) and contains collections representative of arts, ethnology and history of the country of Arles. It was founded by Frederic Mistral, after it had accepted the Nobel Prize of literature in 1904.

Museum Réattu

Museum located on the quays of the Rhone (10, rue du great Priory) and passed in 1868 in the municipal inheritance, it is primarily devoted to the work of the painter arlésien Jacques Réattu, Grand Prix of Rome, with photography and architecture. This museum also shelters a collection of drawings of Picasso. It was precursory in France while opening with photography since 1965 thanks to the initiative of Jean-Maurice Rouquette and Lucien Clergue. It is it again in 2007, by creating the first funds of sound art in a museum of the fine arts, in collaboration with association Phonurgia Nova.

Foundation Vincent van Gogh

Located at the 24 (a), roundabout of the Arenas, this foundation-museum includes/understands a permanent exposure of the contemporary artists paying homage to Van Gogh.

Museum of the Camargue

Located at the Farmhouse of the Bridge of Rousty, to approximately 10 km of Arles on the road in direction of the Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, this museum recalls the geological evolution and the human activities of the delta. A pedestrian way makes it possible to discover many facets of the the current Camargue.

Another inheritance

Specialities gastronomical

Sausage of Arles, meat of bull roasted, ox gardiane, catigot of eel, divides into volumes of Arles (cheese of ewe which bears according to its refining the names of Arlésienne, Lou Gardian or Lou Pastre),…

Election of the queens of Arles

Since 1930, the municipality of Arles organizes the election of a queen of Arles. See the article List of the queens of Arles.

.
All along the year, the city is animated by the traditional festivals (the election of the queen of Arles, the feria of Easter and all the other events taurins, the living room of the santonniers), the photographic meetings and of many festivals (festival of music of the world of the " Suds, in Arles" , festival of Actes Sud music, festival of the Peplum film, festival of photographs of naked…). Arles also has a significant market which is held twice per week, Wednesday and Saturday, along the old ramparts of the city. Diary of the principal demonstrations

  • Easter: féria Pascale
  • July-August: International meetings of photography
  • At the beginning of July: festival of Suds, musics of the world
  • At the end of August: festival of the film Peplum
  • Mid-September: féria of the first steps of rice
  • At the end of September: living room of antiquities and the secondhand trade
  • At the end of October: days of the toothing-stone
  • At the end of November - at the beginning of January: international fair of the santonniers

Twinnings

  • York Pennsylvania, (the United States), since July 4th, 1954; it is about the 1st Franco-American twinning
  • Wisbech (Great Britain), since May 1st, 1964
  • Fulda (Germany), since September 5th, 1964
  • Verviers (Belgium), since June 18th, 1967
  • Vercelli (Italy), since September 1970
  • Pskov (Russia), since September 1976
  • Jerez of Frontera (Spain), since September 1980
  • Sagné (Mauritania), since 1986
  • Kalymnos (Greece), since 2004
  • Zhouzhuang (China), since May 2006

Personalities arlésiennes

Born in Arles

Antiquity and Moyen-âge

  • Marcus Mettius Rufus (c.50 -?), prefect of Egypt then of the annone.

  • Favorinus (c.85 - c.150), philosopher skeptic or pertaining to the New Academy.
  • Constantin II (August 7th, 314 - 340), wire of Constantin I {{er}} and Roman Emperor
  • Ennodius (473-521), bishop of Pavia
  • Constancy of Arles (986- † July 1032), girl of Guillaume Ier (c.950- † 993) count d' Arles, and Adelaide of Anjou († 1026), queen of France by her marriage with Robert II.
  • the House Of the Piglets, illustrates noble dynasty of Provence.

Rebirth and traditional period

modern Time

  • Baron de Chartrouse (1772-1843), mayor of Arles, restorer of the arenas and the Roman theater, also botanist and ornithologist.
  • Amédée Pichot (1795-1877), French writer.
  • Jean-Joseph-Louis-Auguste Loiseleur of Longchamps Deville, known as " Doctor Deville" , born in 1797 in Arles and died in 1872 in Paris, French Doctor.
  • Jean Baptist Marie Fouque (1819-1880), painter.
  • Jacques Marie Trichaud (1823-1894), canon, preacher and historian arlésien.
  • Romance Dominique (1824-1911), photographer.
  • Auguste Véran (1839-1927), architect of the historic buildings.
  • Jean Turcan (1846-1895), sculptor
  • Jeanne Calm, born on February 21st, 1875 in Arles (Rhone delta) and dead on August 4th, 1997 at the 122 years age in Arles, city where it will have passed the integrality of her long life. It was during long years the senior of humanity.
  • Jean Etienne Laget (1896-1990), painter.
  • Suzet Corn (1907-?), actress.
  • Louis Feraud (1921-1999), dressmaker.
  • Pierre Court (1924-1997), author of songs for Dalida, Enrico Macias, Zanini (you want or you do not want?) and others… Bond: Biography of Pierre Court.
  • Lucien Clergue, photographer, born on August 14th, 1934 - See Biography of Lucien Clergue.
  • Christian Lacroix, dressmaker born on May 16th, 1951.
  • Anne-Marie David, singer prize winner of the price of Eurovision 1973 ( You will recognize me ) Grand Prix of the disc of the Academy Charles Cros (1972) (" Aimer"), born on May 23rd, 1952.
  • Patrick de Carolis, presenter, writer and president of France Television (since July 2005) born on November 19th, 1953.
  • Henri Guaino, senior official and French politician born on March 11th, 1957
  • Juan Bautista, matador, born on July 12th, 1981.
  • Djibril Cissé, international footballer born on August 12th, 1981.
  • Gaël Givet, international footballer born on October 9th, 1981.
  • Fabien Camus, French footballer born on February 28th, 1985.
  • Fanny Valette, French actress, born on July 4th, 1986.
  • Mehdi Savalli, matador, born on November 1st, 1989.

Having lived in Arles

See too

Gallery of images

is located in this city.
  • the publisher Actes Sud, one of the large publishers French (it published the Goncourt price in 2004), is also located at Arles, instead of Paris like the majority of its colleagues.
  • Arlésienne is the title of a tale of the neighbor nîmois Alphonse Daudet, become then a drama in three acts put in music by Georges Bizet.
  • the perdure use to indicate a localization in the city by using the preposition in instead of with : Its influence extends in Arles and Provence. It is necessary to allot this use (as for the town of Avignon) to the time when Arles was a kingdom because it is the French rule in this case, or in association with the expression country of Arles often employed in the area because of extended of the commune. It is not at all justified to use this formula today, with share in a historical context (to indicate the kingdom), or when one speaks about the country ; still sometimes but one employs it for the city when one wants to use an affected language or snob.

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