Arles: Roman Ruins and the Spirit of van Gogh

This is a wind farm that we saw on Saturday, May 29th on our way to Arles where the Roman ruins are located. These turbines are about 40 to 50 feet high! We went to the Ampitheater of Les Arenes.

False alarm... this is from the 19th century and it is a aqueduct.

This is a rampart from a very large wall around the city of Arles. It was left from the Romans and is about 2,000 years old.

One of the many picturesque homes of the people in Arles. This photo was taken from the amphitheater.

This is the outside of the amphitheater called Les Arenes. It is still used to stage bullfights.

Another part of the architecture of Les Arenes built by the Romans.

Inside the Amphitheater. It holds about 20,000 people, which was nearly the total population of the city when it was built. Later it was also used as a walled city to house 200 little houses to keep the towns people safe.

This is the painting that Vincent van Gogh painted of the inside of Les Arenes.

Just a short walk from Les Arenes is the Greek Theater. Not much of it is left but there are some walls and two columns left standing.



The Greek Theater with the columns standing. The Greeks built their theaters on hills so that it was easier to build the seating area. This theater is still used for concerts of school children and professional concerts.

This is the cafe that Vincent van Gogh painted a picture of!

And the Le Jardin De La Maison De Sante A Arles painting and it is noted by this display. The area looks nearly the same as when he painted it.

This is part of a column found in Arles and is now on display in the Musee de l'Arles Antique.

The Greek Theater with the columns standing. The greeks built their theaters on hills so that it was easier to build the seating area. This theater is still used for concerts of school children and professional concerts.

This is a mosiac that was used as a floor in Roman times in Arles. The pieces are about 1/4 to 1/2 in big. Just beautiful!

More mosiac tiles with very intricate details.

Here is our group in the afternoon at Les Baux. It has very narrow winding streets and an ancient fortress.

Well we had lunch first--roasted duck and what a beautiful view!

The mountains were everywhere.

We went out to dinner and this is the sea bass with mashed fennel and potato. Delicious!

This is what they call a house salad! It seems like they put everything in it but the kitchen sink--it had fruit, veggies, some meat and cheese too!

This is the huge fountain La Grande Rotond at night.