Photo : Marianne Casamance (d · c · b) / Wikimedia Commons (CC-BY-SA-3.0)
Le musée de l'Arles Antique
The Musée départemental Arles antique, opened in 1995 and designed by the architect Henri Ciriani, rises on the Roman Circus peninsula, on the banks of the Rhône, near the remains of Arles's ancient circus. It houses one of the richest archaeological collections in France, from prehistory to Late Antiquity.
The route mixes chronological and thematic approaches, with models and plans, to tell the Roman town: urban planning, daily life, trade, religions. You see large sculptures, pagan and Christian sarcophagi, many mosaics, as well as an important series of everyday objects. Among the flagship pieces are a large marble statue of Augustus and a model of the Barbegal hydraulic mills.
The most spectacular piece is the wreck of the Roman barge Arles-Rhône 3, a boat of about 31 metres retrieved from the river in 2011, displayed surrounded by more than 450 objects linked to navigation, trade and the port.
Near the museum, the Hortus garden is inspired by Roman gardens. A precious visit to understand Arles's importance in the Empire, which can be combined with that of the town's Roman monuments.
