Arles Museums, France

This blog shows two museums in Arles: Museon Arlaten and Museum of ancient Arles and Provence.

The Museon Arlatan was founded in 1896 by poet and historian Frédéric Mistral. The museum focuses on the region’s ethnographic and folkloric aspects.

The museum had a special exhibition on Ungerer drawings.

Tomi Ungerer (1931-2019) was a renowned French illustrator and writer, known for his diverse and provocative body of work. Born in Strasbourg, Ungerer gained fame for his children’s books, satirical illustrations, and political posters.

Ungerer also created illustrations and cartoons for adults, often addressing social and political issues with a sharp, critical eye.

It houses a wide range of artifacts, including traditional costumes, tools, furniture, and everyday objects that reflect the life and traditions of the Provençal people.

Frédéric Mistral (1830-1914) was a French writer and lexicographer from the Provence region. He is best known for his efforts to preserve and promote the Provençal language and culture.

Mistral’s most famous work is “Mirèio” (Mireille), an epic poem written in Provençal, which brought him widespread acclaim. In 1904, he was awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature for his contributions to Provençal literature and his efforts in preserving the language.

He also founded the Museon Arlatan in Arles to preserve and display the cultural heritage of Provence. His legacy is deeply tied to the revival and preservation of Provençal language and culture.

I exited the Museon Arlatan and walked toward the Museum of Ancient Arles and Provence.

The Museum of Ancient Arles and Provence.  The museum is dedicated to the region’s archaeological heritage.

Opened in 1995, the museum showcases a vast collection of artifacts from ancient Arles and the surrounding areas, highlighting the rich history and culture of Provence from prehistoric times through the Roman period.

A model of Arles

Julius Caesar played a crucial role in the development of Arles as a Roman colony. In 46 BCE, after the civil war against Pompey, Caesar rewarded Arles for its loyalty by establishing it as a Roman colony, known as Colonia Julia Paterna Arelatensium Sextanorum, or simply Arelate. This led to the city’s rapid growth and prosperity.

Visitors can see architectural elements from Roman buildings, including columns, capitals, and fragments of monumental structures.

The museum has a notable collection of Roman sarcophagi, showcasing the burial practices and artistic achievements of the period.

The museum houses an impressive collection of Roman artifacts, including mosaics, sculptures, and everyday objects. One of the most significant pieces is a remarkably well-preserved Roman barge, discovered in the Rhône River in 2004.