I rented a three-story house just off the ancient Roman arena where they still have bullfights and events in Arles, France recently at 24, rue Renan. I highly recommend this gîte, which is fully equipped and I found VERY few flaws with it. The owner has it a bit low-priced, to rent quickly. This is one of the most picturesque streets in Arles, a town made famous by Vincent Van Gogh and other artists, with a rich history dating back to Roman times. Julius Caesar granted the Arlesians full Roman citizenship in thanks for their quick support in building warships on the river Rhône here to defeat his rival Pompey not too far South of here, in Marseilles. There is also still a great ampitheatre and many other Roman features, and a terrific antiquities museum by a now non-extant Roman circus. They continue to find amazing things buried there, and there is still a huge necropôle here, Les Alyscamps. This is the Camargue region of France, with its famous greyish-white ancient breed of horses, French cowboys, wild black bulls which roam free much of the year and you see signs of village bull runnings and other crazy events ("DANGER MANIFESTATIONS TAURINES") and this is near the Mediterranean and has a wild wind, the mistral. This city is actually the largest "commune" in France, and is quite varied. In the central parts you can walk to a LOT of things to see and it is very easy to rent a bike -- especially if you want to get out into the countryside, to see some of the famous rice fields and get blasted by the mistral. It is not easy peddling and is very flat and really dull, I found. The weather is very pleasant here in the Bouches-du-Rhône département of Provence, Camargue area, and this was not my first visit to this big area. Arles has the largest market in the entire region every Saturday morning, and a smaller version on Wednesday mornings. Bull meat, which must be seared, is a specialty, as are many pastries, both of the salty/savory type ("grattons" come to mind) and the sweet type (such as the Saint-Tropézienne, which we got for two euros and is a cream puff big enough for two to four adults). Arles is "a city of personality" and might not be quite for you. People do some crazy things in the evenings and at night on some occasions, such as spontaneously dress as Romans, carry torches, ride Camargue horses in the street, make music, stay out late dining on terraces even on weekdays, and supporting the arts. La Roquette, the Arab and artist quarter, is not to be missed. People sometimes dress up here from another epoch and you rub your eyes. September is likely to have heavy rains in this very dry, sunny and hot part of France, so be prepared. Since the bullfights had not yet started up for October, the house was a great bargain. It depends on when you go. Never visit Europe or Scandinavia in July or August. A week was barely enough for Arles. I am not sure I'd want to live there, but it is a great place to visit. I liked my considerate neighbors here and sorted my trash and didn't hesitate to ask them where to leave it. I can easily recommend Arles as a tourist destination for France. A gîte (furnished place) is the way to go if you can find a good one. Again, I recommend this one, which sleeps six, and I do have several clips up of the interior and the exterior. copyright 2013 Lisa B. Falour, B.S., M.B.A. Dailymotion: LisaFalour YouTube: CUTECATFAITH, SLOBOMOTION cutecatfaith.com The gîte is located at 24, rue de Renan ARLES France.

• published: 29 Oct 2013
• views: 60