Van Gogh in Arles and contemporary art in Nimes

We visited Arles today at the start of its Easter Festival where bull fighting and a diversity of fresh produce markets combined with ancient Roman ruins and locations of where Van Gogh painted his famous artworks. Some of these include the hospital he attended when he cut off part of his ear and the gardens that he frequented.

We also visited the Roman ruins and a bullfight where brave young men and women were chased by a bull around an enclosed fixture, many of them jumping up onto the wire fences to escape the bulls horns.

Arles has narrow lane ways dotted with Renaissance mansions and medieval buildings. Walking through the old part of Arles provides new visual discoveries at every turn.

Gendarmes on horseback at the Arles marketplace

Street art of Arles. Live long and prosper!

In Nimes, we saw an intact Ancient Roman temple that is currently being used as a movie theatre! Maison Carre is 2000 years old. Opposite the temple is the Carre D'Art, a cultural arts building designed by Lord Norman Foster, that reflects the design of the ancient temple. At 20 years old it sits in a plaza with other 200 year old buildings.

Maison Carre in Nimes

Carre d' Art opposite the ancient temple.