Arles Walking Tour with Audioguide on your Smartphone
3.7 / 5 · 3 traveler reviews
The audio guide is a convenient mobile companion for a self-guided walk around Arles. The tour is designed specifically for getting to know the city in a short time (1.5–2 hours). Follow the route on the map in the app to walk from the Chapelle de la Charité to the place where Van Gogh painted Starry Night Over the Rhône, passing the city's main landmarks. You will definitely see: Place de la République, Yellow House, Church of Saint Trophime , Amphitheatre, Baths of Constantine, Van Gogh Café. The tour includes 23 interesting stops. All stories are written by professional journalists and historians, with a touch of humor and a love of travel. After you download the tour, the app works offline. You can always hear the audio guide clearly in your headphones. Enjoy fascinating stories and legends as you move at your own pace, without the need to follow a tour group. At any moment, you can stop to rest in a café or turn down a picturesque alley, then continue your walk around the city.
Your experience
Stop 1
Chapelle de la Charité is a historic chapel on Boulevard des Lices in Arles. Built for the Carmelite convent in the early 18th century, it later gave its name to the charitable institution that occupied the former convent buildings. Its Baroque altar, sculpted pulpit, and surviving religious furnishings reflect Provençal sacred art and the layered history of the city.
Stop 2
The Cardo Maximus was the main north–south axis of Roman Arles. It intersected the east–west decumanus near the ancient forum, shaping the street grid of the Roman city. Its remembered course beneath the modern centre reflects Arles’s origins as a planned Roman colony and the lasting imprint of antique urban design.
Stop 3
L’Espace Van Gogh occupies the former Hôtel-Dieu hospital in the centre of Arles. Vincent van Gogh was treated here in 1888 and 1889, and the courtyard later became linked with his painting of the hospital garden. Its arcades, planted courtyard, and cultural spaces connect the city’s medical history with its Van Gogh heritage.
Stop 4
Hôtel de la Lauzière is a historic private mansion in the centre of Arles. Originally built in the 17th century and later altered, it is especially noted for its ornate portal and twisted columns. Its façade, noble family associations, and classical-period domestic architecture reflect the social rise of Arles’s wealthy families.
Stop 5
Place de la République is the civic heart of Arles. Surrounded by the town hall, Saint-Trophime Church, and historic public buildings, it brings together several layers of the city’s past. Its Roman obelisk, classical façades, and central position reflect Arles’s shift from ancient colony to medieval religious centre and modern Provençal town.
Stop 6
Église Saint-Trophime d’Arles is the former cathedral of Arles and one of the city’s great Romanesque monuments. Built mainly in the 12th century on an earlier Christian site, it became closely linked with medieval pilgrimage and the religious power of the city. Its sculpted portal, cloister, nave, and Provençal stonework reflect Arles’s importance in medieval Europe.
Stop 7
The Roman Theatre of Arles is one of the city’s major ancient monuments. Built in the late 1st century BCE under Augustus, it once hosted performances for the Roman colony of Arelate. Its surviving stage columns, seating remains, and nearby urban setting reflect Arles’s role as an important Roman city in Provence.
Stop 8
The Arles Amphitheatre is one of the city’s most famous Roman monuments. Built in the late 1st century CE, it once hosted gladiatorial games and public spectacles for ancient Arelate. Its two-tiered arcades, oval arena, and later reuse as a fortified medieval quarter reflect the long life of Roman architecture in Arles.
Stop 9
Enclos Saint-Césaire is a historic religious complex in the upper part of Arles. It preserves traces of the early Abbey of Saint Caesarius, founded in the 6th century, along with later convent buildings and archaeological remains. Its layered site reflects early Christian Arles, medieval monastic life, and the city’s long sacred history.
Stop 10
Notre-Dame-de-la-Major is a historic church in the Hauture district of Arles. Built on early Christian foundations and reshaped in Romanesque and Gothic forms, it stands near the ancient arena at the top of the city. Its stone nave, chapels, furnishings, and elevated setting reflect the long religious history of Arles.
Stop 11
Rue Raspail is a small street in the historic centre of Arles. Its name recalls François-Vincent Raspail, a 19th-century French scientist, politician, and republican figure widely commemorated in French street names. Its modest scale, old urban fabric, and nearby historic buildings reflect everyday Arles beyond the city’s major Roman monuments.
Stop 12
Café Van Gogh stands on Place du Forum in Arles. The site is associated with Vincent van Gogh’s 1888 painting Café Terrace at Night, which captured the glowing evening terrace and surrounding square. Its yellow façade, outdoor tables, and artistic fame connect everyday Provençal café life with Arles’s Van Gogh heritage.
What’s included
- Illustrations to identify landmarks
- Offline map with a route for easy GPS navigation
- Audio Guide App for iPhone and Android
- 23 audio recordings narrated by a professional historian
- 1 year access to the tour in your preferred language
Not included
- Smartphone and headphones
- In-person tour guide
- Food and drinks
Meeting and pickup
- The tour starts near the Chapelle de la Charité d'Arles. - This is a self-guided tour. There will be no human guide present at the meeting point. - Launch the TouringBee app, start the "Arles Walking Tour," and follow the designated route.
Before you go
- Public transportation options are available nearby
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- The audio guide is available through a special mobile app for iOS and Android
- Entry tickets to the museums are not included. Please buy them separately in advance
- The tour doesn’t cover all sights in Arles
- This is a self-guided tour. You will need to download the audio guide mobile app, activate your purchase, and follow the route on the app's map. There is no human guide provided
- The audio guide is available anytime. The date and time provided for checkout are approximate
Cancellation policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Check the policy for your selected date and option before booking.
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