Ancient Origins (Pre-Roman and Roman Era)

Early Settlements:

Arles was initially inhabited by the Ligurians (8th century BCE) and later influenced by Celtic and Phoenician traders. The Romans captured it in 123 BCE, transforming it into a major city named Arelate.

Roman Prosperity:

Under Julius Caesar, Arles became a colony for veterans (Colonia Iulia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum) in 46 BCE. Its strategic location on the Rhône River and a canal to the Mediterranean (104 BCE) made it a rival to Marseille.

Architectural Marvels:

The city flourished with monuments like the Amphitheatre (1st century CE, seating 20,000), the Ancient Theatre, the Alyscamps necropolis, and the Baths of Constantine.

Imperial Hub:

Emperor Constantine I (4th century CE) used Arles as a residence, and it briefly served as the capital of the Western Roman Empire under usurper Constantine III.

Medieval Transition (5th–15th Centuries)

Decline and Invasions:

After the fall of Rome, Arles was sacked by the Visigoths (471 CE) and later by Muslim raiders (730 CE).

Religious Center:

The city became a key Christian hub, with Saint Trophimus establishing its bishopric (1st century CE). The Saint-Trophime Church (12th century) exemplifies Romanesque art 27.
Kingdom of Arles: In 933 CE, Arles became the capital of the Kingdom of Burgundy-Arles, later absorbed into the Holy Roman Empire (1033). It retained autonomy but gradually lost political relevance.

Medieval Adaptations:

The Amphitheatre was converted into a fortress with 200 houses inside, a "town within a town," until the 18th century.

Renaissance to Modern Era

Economic Shifts: Arles declined in the 17th century but preserved its Roman ruins. The Pont de Crau (canal) and salt trade sustained its economy.

Artistic Revival:

In 1888, Vincent van Gogh moved to Arles, painting masterpieces like Starry Night Over the Rhône and Café Terrace at Night. The Fondation Van Gogh now celebrates his legacy.

Arles’ Roman amphitheatre (built in 90 AD) didn’t just host gladiator battles—it was later transformed into a fortified village with over 200 houses, two chapels, and a public square crammed inside its arches! For centuries, locals treated it like a Roman-era Airbnb

Van Gogh’s Missing Ear Café: The Café Terrace at Night (now Café Van Gogh) in Place du Forum is painted exactly as Van Gogh depicted it in 1888—except the artificial flowers and tourist crowds make it look more like a “Vincent-themed Disneyland” than a moody masterpiece

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