Arles

This summer we have lived and breathed Roman life thanks to our two onboard gladiators. Arles, so important to Julius Caesar, just had to be visited. Even better, Arles was hosting a Roman festival. Better yet – Arles was Van Gogh’s old stomping ground. There would be something for all of us to enjoy.

Arles is a fabulous city to explore on foot and the Tourist Office have produced an excellent user-friendly guide (only €1) which introduces you to Roman, Medieval, Renaissance and Van Gogh aspects.

We started with the Van Gogh walk. Van Gogh had arrived in Arles in 1888 and the following 15 months turned out to be his most productive period : over 300 paintings and drawings. Panels representing some of his more famous pieces have been placed at the spot where Van Gogh would have placed his easel.

"Cafe Terrace at night" but visited in the day

After a picnic lunch in the Place de la Republique we visited the Roman theatre (circa 20BC) and sweltered in the heat as we explored it.

Then at 3pm we hot-footed it to Gladiator School where the boys enrolled on an unbelievably gruelling session of combat drill conducted in furiously fast French and Latin. It was exhausting to watch. Dan, inspired by a recently devoured set of 15 books entitled “Roman Mysteries”, got into role very quickly and took his training seriously. Cal caught the bug from Dan. The boys were brilliant. Unaware tourists strolling through the training area did not stand a chance as mini gladiators attacked them with swords and shields.

After Gladiator graduation we visited the Amphitheatre (built circa 80AD) which originally could hold some 20,000 spectators and is still used today as a key venue for bullfighting events. 

Thanks to the Roman festival there was no bull-fighting today. But there was Gladiator combat and it was excellent.

Nipped back down to the Place de la Republique to watch chariots, legionaries, Celtic warriors, Senators, Caesars and Gladiators assemble for a parade through the town. Boy heaven!

This Roman has found the perfect solution for  playing deaf to tourists!

Exhausted, we decided to leave Arles. However, on the return journey we decided to make a detour to visit another Roman marvel : the Pont du Gard. This UNESCO World Heritage site is an exceptionally well-preserved three-tiered Roman aqueduct. It was part of a 50km long canal built around 20BC in order to carry water from Uzes to Nimes. The 275m long bridge towers 50m above the Gard River. We walked across the bridge but the best views were from below, where we paddled in the river and cheered a bride and groom as they posed for their wedding photos.