About Arles
Le Bel Angle is ideally situated in the historic centre of Arles, a UNESCO world heritage site. Arles is ideally located as a base to explore Provence, the Bouches-du-Rhone and Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur (PACA).
It is a 13-minute walk from the Arles train and bus station which has connections to Paris, Marseille, Avignon, Nîmes, Valence, Orange, Montpellier, Aix-en-Provence, Narbonne and other locations.
Arles can also be used as a base to explore the beautiful Camargue and the Le Parc naturel régional de Camargue as well as the Alpilles, Saint-Rémy-de-Provence and the Le Parc naturel régional des Alpilles.
Arles is a hidden gem with something for everyone : history, museums, culture, architecture, galleries, gastronomy, wine, local markets, music, and many festivals.
Le Bel Angle is a 3-minute walk to famous Roman sites such as the amphitheatre (Arènes), the ancient theatre, the thermal baths, the underground crypts and the Place du Forum, now filled with restaurants, cafés and the famous hotel, Nord-Pinus. It is within a 20-minute walk to les Alyscamps (Roman cemetery) and the Roman circus next to the archaeological museum (Musée départemental Arles antique). In addition, there are beautiful churches, such as Saint-Trophime and the Church of Notre-Dame-de-la-Majeur in addition to the Cloisters of Saint-Trophime and the archbishops’ palace. Arles’ ancient Roman history is celebrated annually during the Festival Arelate and the European Journées du Patrimoine.
You will walk in the footsteps of famous artists, poets and creators such as Vincent Van Gogh, Frédéric Mistral and Christian Lacroix. Arles is still home to a number of galleries, artists, creators, studios and workshops. Arles is world-famous for its international Photography Festival (Les Rencontres d’Arles), Drawing Festival (Festival du Dessin), and Open Artist Studio and Workshop Weekend (Arles Ateliers Ouverts).
The written word still holds a strong place in Arles, as witnessed by its numerous independent book shops and its poetry weekend (La Nuit de La Poésie).
If you enjoy fashion and fashion history, there are independent clothing stores and vintage shops and the annual Festival Fashion Fripe. Do not miss the Fragonard museum of fashion and costume. You will also find many pieces in the Museon Arlaten, a provencal ethnographic museum, founded by Frédéric Mistral and housed in an architectural jewel of a building. The provencal costume tradition still live on today in the annual Pegoulado (costume parade) and the Costume Festival (Fête du Costume)
For art, you have nothing more to do than to step outside Le Bel Angle to visit the Lee Ufan museum. It is a 3-minutes walk to the Fine Arts museum (Musée Réattu), the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation. The Luma contemporary art museum and complex with its tower designed by Frank Gehry is a 15-minute walk away. Many museums and sights in Arles stage unique events for the European Museum Night (Nuit des Musées).
Spoil yourself at one of the markets where locals shop every Wednesday and Saturday. Stop in one of the amazing bakeries, local coffee shops or natural wine stores. In less than five minutes, you can eat an amazing gourmet meal or drink an artisan cocktail from an array of establishments, many listed in the Fooding and Michelin guides : the Chardon, Le Nord-Pinus, L’Arlatan, Inari, the Drum Café, La Caye, Le Gibolin and Le Seize. The Michelin-star La Chassagnette is just outside town and we are a stone’s throw to the world-renowned vineyards of Châteauneuf-du-Pape.
You will find live music or DJ nights in several bars. In addition, there is the annual Jazz in Arles, Les Suds à Arles music festival, Festival Les Escales du Cargo, Festival FlamencA and Les Quais en Musique classical and jazz music festival.
In the antique Roman theatre, you can enjoy short films at the Festival Phare, animated films by the students of the MoPA school and the Festival of Film Peplum.
Even during the winter, Arles comes alive with its Christmas market, festive run, and festivals.
Whether you are visiting Arles for work or pleasure as a solo traveller or part of a couple or group, Le Bel Angle is happy to welcome you into its city centre location in an 18th century house on a calm, pedestrian only street.