{"id":6455,"date":"2018-07-17T16:57:59","date_gmt":"2018-07-17T23:57:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/?p=6455"},"modified":"2024-08-09T10:38:15","modified_gmt":"2024-08-09T17:38:15","slug":"provence-travel-arles-les-baux","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/interspace-design.com\/blog\/provence-travel-arles-les-baux","title":{"rendered":"Portraits of Southern France: Cruising from Arles to Tournon"},"content":{"rendered":"

Since\u00a0our ship was overnighting at Avignon, we decided to explore the area around the quai. We crossed a bridge and was surprised to find ourselves on \u00cele de la Barthelasse (Barthelasse Island), which I had planned to visit earlier but unfortunately ran out of time.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>
View of the famous Pont d\u2019Avignon (Avignon Bridge) through the arch of neighboring Pont \u00c9douard Daladier.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Pont d\u2019Avignon was popularized by the 15th century French children\u2019s song Sur le Pont d’Avignon<\/a>. The bridge itself is an oddity \u2013 it stops in the middle of the Rh\u00f4ne as the end that was destroyed by a prior flood was never rebuilt.<\/p>\n

\"Popes'<\/a>
Palais des Papes (Popes’ Palace) with its medieval stone ramparts glowing in the setting sun.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

It was hard to grasp the scale of the Palace<\/a> when we stayed inside the old town. Walking back towards the city gave us a new appreciation of the massive papal residence and its well-preserved ramparts.<\/p>\n

\"View<\/a>
View of the Rh\u00f4ne from boat.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

As dusk settled over the river, the sky was a m\u00e9lange of lavender, orange, and purple. Peculiar to river cruises, one may find several boats tied up alongside each other during busy times. Luckily this was not the case so we were able to enjoy the scenery in peace.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/a>
A peak at the amphitheatre in Arles.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Once disembarked at Tarascon, we were quickly whisked off to Arles<\/a>, whose collection of Roman & Romanesque monuments are listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The 2-tiered amphitheatre was built in 90 AD, but the towers on top of the arcades were later additions.<\/p>\n

\"Wall<\/a>
A church that bore witness to the French Revolution.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The faded painting of this side chapel in Eglise St-Trophime (Church of St-Trophime) dates back to 1789, the beginning of the French Revolution. Painted on the wall behind the chandelier is a triangle within a sunburst design that denotes the primacy of reason over religion, the mantra of the Revolution.<\/p>\n

\"Dwellings<\/a>
Dwellings and fortifications carved into\u00a0the wind swept limestone outcrop.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Fifteen kilometers from Arles is the fortified village of Les Baux-de-Provence<\/a>. The brooding, desolate moonscape, called Citadale de la ville morte (Castle of the Dead City), is a testament to its turbulent past. By contrast the remaining 16th century stone houses in the village are beautifully preserved by the residents and turned into picture-perfect shops, galleries, and restaurants.<\/p>\n

\"Picture<\/a>
The streets are a study in contrasts between the architecture of Arles (left) and Les Baux (right).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Streets from Arles and Les Baux\u00a0are charming in their own rights, but I find the latter’s rough-hewn limestone buildings and car-free cobblestone streets\u00a0more appealing.<\/p>\n