The road to Saint Jacques de Compostela

The path of Arles has been since the Middle Ages one of the four routes crossing France and Europe towards Saint Jacques.

Arles, a Roman city located at the crossroads of the Mediterranean and Gaul, was early Christianized. From the 4th century, the veneration of the relics of the martyr Genest and then of several holy bishops from Arles, led to the construction of sanctuaries, around which vast Christian cemeteries spread gradually.
The cult of relics, associated with the prestige of the diocese of Arles and the prosperity of the city in the 12th century, favored the architectural renewal of cult buildings in Arles in the Romanesque style. With the concomitant growth of the pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela, the Arles saints gained even greater fame. So much so that in the Middle Ages, Arles is known to be the starting point of the via Tolosana or via Are-latensis.
Thanks to this pilgrimage, the necropolis of Alyscamps has become one of the largest Christian cemeteries in the West.

Pilgrim's passport : Issued by the Saint Jacques associations, can be stamped at the entrance to the Saint Trophime cloister, the Alyscamps and at the Tourist Office.

Useful information :

- The ways of Saint-Jacques in Arles (.pdf)
- Pilgrim's accommodation
- Download the prices and timetables of the monuments

Useful links :

- www.chemins-compostelle.com
- www.amis-st-jacques.org
- www.prieurebouchaud.com