The present city was settled by Celtic tribes long before the Greeks and Romans stamped their influence on it. In Roman times, Julius Caesar made a gift of Arles to his veteran legionnaires, marking the beginning of its golden age. Marseille had fallen out of favour, so Arles became the capital of 'The Province' (Provence).
The Espace Van Gogh is a former hospital where Van Gogh was a patient during a year long stay in Arles. The ‘Langlois Bridge’ (Pont de Langlois) is the wooden lifting bridge famously painted by Van Gogh in 1888, and is located to the south of Arles.
Gauguin stayed with Van Gogh in 1888, but left after being threatened by him. Soon after, Van Gogh is reputed to have cut off his ear.
The ‘Musée Réattu’ (Museum Reattu) was acquired by the neo-classical painter ‘Jacques Réattu’ who left his art collection to Arles. Today, the collection includes works by Picasso, G Richier, Zadkine and Alechinsky.
For more tourist information and history, see Premier Pages (Wine Regions, Places of Interest)