Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments (French: ''Arles, monuments romains et romans'') is an area containing a collection of monuments in the city centre of
Arles,
France, that has been listed as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1981.
The official brief description for this as a World Heritage Site is:
Arles is a good example of the adaptation of an ancient city to medieval European civilization. It has some impressive Roman monuments, of which the earliest – the arena, the Roman theatre and the cryptoporticus (subterranean galleries) – date back to the 1st century B.C. During the 4th century Arles experienced a second golden age, as attested by the baths of Constantine and the necropolis of Alyscamps. In the 11th and 12th centuries, Arles once again became one of the most attractive cities in the Mediterranean. Within the city walls, Saint-Trophime, with its cloister, is one of Provence's major Romanesque monuments.
The protected area covers 65 ha. The following buildings are located within this area:
Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments: Multiple Locations
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* Arles Amphitheatre
* The Roman theatre
Roman theatres derive from and are part of the overall evolution of earlier Greek theatres. Indeed, much of the architectural influence the Romans came from the Greeks, and theatre structural design was no different from other buildings. However ...
* Cryptoporticus and Roman forum: Located underneath the Chapel of the Jesuit College and the City Hall, this cryptoporticus was likely built by the Greeks in the 1st century BC. It may have been used as a slave barracks.
References
{{World Heritage Sites in France
World Heritage Sites in France
Landmarks in France
Buildings and structures in Arles
Roman Arles
Buildings and structures in Bouches-du-Rhône
Tourist attractions in Bouches-du-Rhône