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Arles River Cruises

About Arles

Arles is a popular port of call on cruises which travel along one of France’s most famous rivers, the Rhone. Located in the south of the country and close to the ocean, it’s a beautiful city with a long history and is a joy to explore. After taking control of the town in 123BC, the Romans turned Arles into a key city of economic, cultural and religious importance, after which it became a free city until the time of the French Revolution. In later years, it became a favourite destination of Vincent Van Gogh, who produced over 300 paintings and drawings during his time there. This engaging history ensures that Arles is a satisfying destination to explore.

Exploring Arles

Certain areas of Arles have the honour of being part of the city’s UNESCO World Heritage Site and they are naturally some of its most popular attractions, too. Les Arenes is a spectacular Roman amphitheatre, which though a ruin, is well-preserved, still in use and seats 20,000 people. The cryptoporticus subterranean galleries are an ancient Roman support system, which offer fascinating, if a little dank look at the city’s past, while Les Alyscamps is an ancient Roman mausoleum but one which is outdoors, situated on a tree-lined road minutes not far outside the city. Full of atmosphere, it was one of the locations favoured by Vincent Van Gogh.

Aside from its Roman heritage, the city is home to a host of other contrasting architectural attractions, including Eglise St-Trophime, a beautiful church with an ornate façade and some beautiful stained glass windows which survived the French Revolution and the hill-top Abbey of Montmajour, which dates back to the Middle Ages and houses a number of modern art exhibits as well as a 12th-century Roman cloister, built by the Benedictine monks who once resided there.

To walk in the footsteps of one of the city’s most famous visitors, be sure to visit Espace Van Gogh. Set in picturesque gardens, it’s the beautifully restored hospital in which the artist was admitted during times of illness and where he produced a number of celebrated works.

For those who love nature a little more than architecture or indeed art, then Arles more than delivers in the form of Les Marais du Vigueirat, a beautiful area which offers a choice of walks and trials and the chance to see numerous bird species and wildlife. It’s free to explore but the less adventurous can pay to hire a guide and binoculars are also available for hire.

Arles tips

Local wines are available in a number of restaurants and bistros, while a popular souvenir to take home is pottery, available in the rue Cavalerie area.

Arles Itineraries

Lyon

Aix-en-Provence with Sensations of Lyon - Nice

5 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Lyon, France to Nice
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2699pp
Pinhao

Discover the Rivers of France & Portugal

3 sailing dates May 2023 to September 2023
14 Nights From Nice, France to Beaune
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Lyon

Active & Discovery On Rhone - Northbound

4 sailing dates May 2023 to September 2023
9 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , Paris
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Burgundy & Provence with 1 Night in Marseille

11 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Nice, France to , St. Jean De Losne
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Viviers

Active & Discovery On Rhone - Southbound

4 sailing dates May 2023 to September 2023
9 Nights From Paris, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Avignon

Burgundy & Provence - Northbound

1 sailing date October 2023
7 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , St. Jean De Losne
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Tournon

Burgundy & Provence - Southbound

2 sailing dates October 2023
7 Nights From St. Jean De Losne, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights In Nice

11 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From St. Jean De Losne, to France , Nice
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris

12 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
9 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , Paris
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

A Culinary Experience In Burgundy & Provence

1 sailing date March 2023
7 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , St. Jean De Losne
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Viviers

Sensations of Lyon & Provence with Paris

2 sailing dates July 2023 to August 2023
9 Nights From Marseille, France, to Paris
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £2999pp
Avignon

Paris with Sensations of Lyon & Provence

5 sailing dates April 2023 to August 2023
9 Nights From Paris, to Marseille, France
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Lyon

Ultimate France - Bordeaux to Arles

26 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2024
21 Nights From Bordeaux, France to Arles
Uniworld River Cruises logo FROM £9089pp
Avignon

Christmas in Southern France -Marseille- Marseille

2 sailing dates December 2023
4 Nights From Marseille, France, to Marseille, France
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Avignon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Avignon

40 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Avignon, France to Lyon
Riviera Travel logo FROM £1599pp
Paris

Grand France - Paris to Port Louis (southbound)

10 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
14 Nights From Paris, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Rhine & Rhône Revealed Southbound

11 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
14 Nights From Amsterdam, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Strasbourg

Rhine & Rhône Revealed (Northbound)

11 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2023
14 Nights From Port St. Louis, France to , Amsterdam
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Tournon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Lyon

39 sailing dates April 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Lyon, France to Avignon

Enjoy drinks on Riviera this summer! Unlimited soft drinks, Warsteiner draft beer, red, white, rose & sparkling house wines from 10am to midnight* - available for a limited time only!

Riviera Travel logo FROM £1649pp
Lyon

Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Arles

28 sailing dates April 2023 to November 2024
7 Nights From Arles, France to Chalon-Sur-Saône

EXCLUSIVE OFFER | Receive €100pp FREE to spend on-board on any Europe 2023 river cruise. Save up to £1,200 per couple PLUS FREE flights from London and FREE overseas transfers* on selected sailings. Regional supplements from just £75pp.

AmaWaterways logo FROM £2799pp

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