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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

Villefranche

Aix-en-Provence with Sensations of Lyon - Nice

1 sailing date October 2023
10 Nights From Lyon , France to Villefranche
Emerald Cruises logo CALL
Viviers

Burgundy & Provence with 1 Night in Marseille

1 sailing date October 2023
9 Nights From Villefranche, France to , St. Jean De Losne
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Viviers

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights In Nice

2 sailing dates October 2023
9 Nights From St. Jean De Losne, to France , Villefranche
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Paris

Burgundy & Provence with 2 Nights in Paris

1 sailing date October 2023
9 Nights From Port St. Louis, France, France to , Paris (Honfleur)
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Avignon

Ultimate France - Bordeaux to Arles

15 sailing dates March 2024 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 Marseilles, France, to Marseilles, France
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Lyon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Avignon

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

FREE Superior drinks package!

Riviera Travel logo FROM £1599pp
Lyon

Grand France - Paris to Port Louis (southbound)

1 sailing date October 2023
14 Nights From Paris, to France , Port St. Louis
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Rhine & Rhône Revealed (Northbound)

1 sailing date October 2023
14 Nights From Port St. Louis, France, France to , Amsterdam
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Avignon

Burgundy, the River Rhone & Provence from Lyon

23 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2024
7 Nights From Lyon , France to Avignon
Riviera Travel logo FROM £1649pp
Lyon

Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Arles

27 sailing dates October 2023 to October 2025
7 Nights From Arles, France to Chalon-sur Saône

CALL US now for secret sale reduced prices

AmaWaterways logo FROM £2459pp
Lyon

Essence of Burgundy & Provence from Chalon-sur-Sao

4 sailing dates October 2023 to November 2025
7 Nights From Chalon-sur Saône, France to Arles
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2559pp
Peso Da Régua

Discover the Rivers of France &Portugal from Porto

3 sailing dates April 2024 to July 2024
14 Nights From Porto, Portugal to France , Villefranche
Emerald Cruises logo FROM £5589pp
Avignon

Burgundy and Provence with 2 Nights in Paris

2 sailing dates October 2023
9 Nights From Paris (Honfleur), to France , Port St. Louis, France
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Colors Of Provence - Lyon to Arles

43 sailing dates October 2023 to December 2025
7 Nights From Lyon , France to Arles
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2249pp
Viviers

Colors Of Provence - Arles to Lyon

42 sailing dates October 2023 to December 2025
7 Nights From Arles, France to Lyon
AmaWaterways logo FROM £2249pp
Lyon

Burgundy & Provence

2 sailing dates October 2023
7 Nights From St. Jean De Losne, to France , Port St. Louis, France

Includes HUGE savings - book now to avoid disappointment.

Avalon Waterways logo FROM £1639pp
Lyon

Grand France - Port Louis to Paris

1 sailing date October 2023
14 Nights From Port St. Louis, France, France to , Paris (Honfleur)
Avalon Waterways logo CALL
Lyon

Burgundy And Provence(Northbound)

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

Burgundy & Provence - Lyon to Arles

2 sailing dates October 2023 to November 2023
7 Nights From Lyon , France to Arles
Uniworld River Cruises logo FROM £2599pp

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