Arles Things to Do

you got it already, taxi is the best way to get there, its about 3kms, i use my car but you can inquire at taxis from Arles

http://www.taxis-arlesiens.com/index_ang.php

this one even mention taxi is 14€ for the day
http://taxi-arles.com/tarifs.html

the abbey in English from Arles tourist office
http://www.arles-tourisme.com/en_GB/Ville_visite.aspx?Code=d767064f-b0a3-40a5-8089-339d0b218773&Page=1&Ville=Arles&lang=2
hope it helps

Arles is not so huge and I would say that the best way to get around this medieval town is to use your feet and walk. But bring with you a very good pair of shoes that you have used before. You will get more out of the city if you walk and it is wonderful. Just have your camera in your hand, if you find something interesting to take a picture of, maybe for showing us here on virtualtourist. There are so many pretty and beautiful buidlings that you have to take a picture of and share with all other members.

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The river goes through the little beautiful town of Arles and on the both sides of the river you have possibilities to walk or run. Many of the local people walk their dogs here and and I have also seen many just bring their newspaper and something to drink, and then just sit down on any of the sides of Rhone. For relaxing. It is like a meeting point for many people. It is always nice to be close to the water. On the the river come many cargo ships and you can also see that on one of my movies from Arles. You can always say that the water, even if it is a river, it is the pumping heart of the river.

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This Amphithéâtre (Amphitheater) eas built around 90 A.D. With a length of 136 m. and a width 107 m., it could hold up to 25.000 spectators. As you can see from the pics, it's mostly used as a bullring.

UNESCO World Heritage since 1.981.

Imagine watching a bullfight in a 2000+ year old Roman Arena. An Arena which seems to have barely fallen prey to the hands of time. The sun-warmed seats are carved into the stone, and apart from the loudspeakers blaring, you could almost feel like you stepped into a time portal.

Usually in France they have the no-kill bullfights, the Course Camarguaise. A few times a year they have the Corrida. One in particular is the Feria du Riz, in September. As I had never seen a bullfight I decided to get a ticket to the event when I got to town. But not before "running with the bulls" . (see picture - these were actually small bulls, not the ones used for the actual fight)

It may seem odd to watch a bullfight in France, but this part of France seems to occasionally embrace some Spanish traditions. (I also found out the Gipsy Kings are from Arles!).

It starts out with a great deal of pageantry. Beautiful and talented horse and rider teams, doing their pirouettes for the crowd. I found out a good horse could run 100K dollars - this was 2001!

Then, the bull, who by now is in a frenzy in his little cage, is released, and a horse and rider (picador) entice and enrage the bull into chasing them around the arena. I was amazed at how calm the horses remained - at some times the horse was barely inches ahead it seemed but very controlled and graceful.

When he got close enough, the rider would take two long spears, festooned with ribbons, and plunge them into the bull's shoulders and side. This whole scenario is meant to tire him out.

The horse and rider exits and the matador comes out. There is some footplay for the crowd for a while, and, the final coup de grace comes after the bull "gives up" - usually by falling to its knees. At that point it is over VERY fast. The matador spikes him right between the ears and the bull drops like a tree. Legs up - no joking.

It's a sad denouement when the horse drawn winch comes into the arena to drag the bull away.

Les Arenes (The Arena) is a good example of public buildings reutilization, and an indispensable visit. What was once the scene of brutal battles between gladiators now is the scene of not so brutal fights between bullfighters and bulls. Well, at least the French version of Bullfighting is not as dangerous for the bull's health as the Spanish one (which inevitably and sadly always ended with the dead of the animal)

The old dead city above the new city.
Windy, windy .. with excellent hiking through the ruins.....
then dejeuner (some good restaurants & cafes with Provence cuisine)
down in the new city... An afternoon well spent in Les Baux.

Pinched this photo from http://www.lesbauxdeprovence.com/us/index.html (credit T.Fréchier)

I took a vista shot climbing down to the new city, but forgot to take any of my own in the old city. Sorry 'bout that.

The Roman Arena in Arles most likely looks much like it did almost 2000 years ago.

I could feel the history as I walked through the interior and all the passageways from the gladiators' dressing rooms, through stables where animals were kept, and out into the arena itself.
Be sure to climb to the top. There are great views of the city of Arles and Provence from the top row of the arena.

The arena is right next to hotel le Calendal. They still hold outdoor events and bullfights in the arena. I root for the bull.
I took this one evening after midnight.

The city of Nimes, just a few kilometers NW of Arles, also has an excellent Roman Arena.
Southern France is filled with outstanding roman ruins.