A trip to bouches du rhone in france

A Trip to Bouches-du-Rhone in France

A tour of France would be incomplete without this treasured region where Provence’s Roman past is preserved with the wildlife of the Camargue marsh Pont du Gard. This incredible aqueduct across a gorge in the Gardon River between Avignon and Nîmes is an engineering marvel you should not by-pass. Built by the Romans over 2000 years ago, it is a national site French school children visit on field trips from as far away as Paris.

Nîmes is an ancient Roman city dating back to over 2000 years ago. The Arènes is the best preserved Roman Colosseum in the world. It is huge, seating 21,000 at 140 yards long and 110 yards wide, still in use today for bullfights, tennis matches, and expos. Nearby is a local Archeological and Natural History Museum. A Roman temple, now a museum called the Maison Carrée (Square House), dates back to the 1st century, with beautiful architectural features and carvings, and it contains a statue of Apollo. This is the building the American president Thomas Jefferson used as a model for Virgina state’s capitol building.

LeMusée des Beaux Arts (Fine Arts Museum) includes a Roman mosaic, paintings by Poussin and sculptures by Rodin. Arles is another Roman city with many remaining Roman structures like the huge Colloseum, where bullfights still take place, Constantine’s Baths, and the old Roman Theater, or Théatre Antique, which is the fabulous setting for film, music, and dance festivals during the summers. Arles is appealing for its museums, public squares, some large and some more intimate, and its brasseries and outdoor cafés. Van Gogh spent years here painting and drawing, and you will recognize the same, distinctive scenery of olive groves, vineyards, and hot plains surrounding the city. The Pont de Trinquetaille, one of Van Gogh’s famous subjects, is one of the few landmarks of his time that survived WWII. Les Baux-de-Provence is an incredible ancient stone town in a spectacular setting on a rocky summit overlooking the vineyards and olive groves below. The Ville Morte (Dead Town) ruins are what is left of its medieval heritage. Artifacts have been excavated and are on display in the Musée Lapidaire, and the panoramas from the ancient towers stretch as far as the Mediterranean Sea. Don’t miss the 16th century Hôtel des Porcelets, which features 18th century frescoes. Not far is a fabulous outdoor “movie theatre” called the Cathédrale d’ Images in an old bauxite quarry where nature films are shown. St-Rémy de Provence is the most fashionable town in which to live in France. Its history dates back to Roman times, when it was situated along the Aurelian Way trade route to Milan. There remain baths, a forum, temples, a mausoleum and an Arch of Triumph. Also, to fully feel the medieval ambiance provided by this province, stay on an owners direct in France.