France - Sightseeing in La Camargue

I had honestly never heard of La Camargue until I found out we were going to visit there whilst on our wine trip. It's a small area of natural beauty within the Languedoc region of France. When we visited, we stopped in the cities of Aigues-Mortes (translated into Dead Water) and Arles. 

I took pictures in both cities, but what I didn't capture was the nature preserves we drove through within La Camargue. There were thousands of wild flamingos, hundreds of wild, all-white horses, and (although we only saw a few), pure-bred Camargue cattle. 

The walled city of Aigues-Mortes

Our first stop was in Aigues-Mortes, formerly a seaside fortress, which is now situated a bit inland as the seas have changed. Outside the walled city are marshlands where famous Camargue salt is harvested. The 'modern' city was founded by Louis IX in 1240 when he took over a catholic priory because it sat on a rather advantageous location. 

Gated entrance to Aigues-Mortes

The small, cobbled streets were filled with a mix of tourist shops and shops for locals. It was already a rather hot day, so my friend and I hit up a hat shop and purchased some shade. We all looked quite cute for the rest of the trip (if I do say so myself). 

Tiny street in Aigues-Mortes 

We bought hats!

We walked down to the beach to put our toes in the mediterranean sea. It was lovely and all, but, damn, that sand was HOT! 

The sand was HOT

Before walking back to the bus we got a group shot of the four American gals on the wine trip.

Happy girls!

After driving through la Camargue and seeing lots of wildlife and beauty, we stopped in Arles for some late afternoon touring before dinner. I had not been aware that Arles had a still-standing, still in-use Roman amphitheater built in 90AD. WOW, was it amazing! I have never been to mainland Italy, so this was the first major Roman structure I have seen. 

Roman amphitheater in Arles

Arles Amphitheater

In the picture below you can see the new(ish) stadium-style seats that they've added to the amphitheater. Even though it is almost 2,000 years old, it is still used for concerts and the like throughout the year. 

Tunnels inside amphitheater

More views of the amphitheater and its seating. I wonder, are the wooden bench seats more comfortable that the old stone slabs? They both seem rather unpleasant!

Amphitheater seating

Panoramic view of Amphitheater

We walked the amphitheater's perimeter twice, once outside amongst the seats and once inside, below the seats.

Below grounds in amphitheater

Interior walkways

It gave me the chills walking around below. I kept thinking about the gladiators, slaves, animals, etc. who had probably spent their last hours here before battle scared out of their minds. 

Gladiatorial (or animal?) entrance to the arena

Can you even imagine, having to walk out of that doorway and into an arena where you had to fight to the death? Or wrestle a tiger? Gives me the willies just thinking about it. Maybe this amphitheater was used for happier things way back when… but I doubt it. 

I was MELTING

We went back outside for a few more photos. But, damn, it was hot. After living in England for five years, my poor body just can't take the heat!

Roman stonework at amphitheater

Several stories tall

After the amphitheater we walked through town in search of a garden made famous by Vincent Van Gogh. We walked and walked and walked in the heat, almost gave up, but then we found it! 

Arles church

Doors of the church of Saint-Trophime

The garden painted by Vincent Van Gogh is really not much more than a pretty courtyard.

Garden painted by Van Gogh

But it was pretty enough for me to take a selfie!

In garden painted by Van Gogh

And here's the famous Van Gogh painting in the garden it's depicting. You can see the white/yellow/blue terraces in the distance. The garden's grown in a bit since he painted the picture, though! 

One of Van Gogh's painting in location of painting