Frédéric Mistral, speaking to the Arlésiens in 1887 :
« Ô Arles, you who have been all that one can be, the metropolis of an empire, the capital of a kingdom and the matron of freedom »

Proud… Like the poet Frédéric Mistral, Arlésiens and Arlésiennes are strong advocates of Provençal culture.

Girls wear the traditional costume from an early age and dream of becoming, perhaps one day, the Queen of Arles !

Every three years, on May 1st for the Festival of Gardians, thousands of people gather at Place de la République to discover the one that will embody local traditions, far from a classic beauty contest ! Here, the festivals are not part of folklore but of a deep attachment to the Provençal identity.

To realize this, you should definitely visit the Museon Arlaten, which reopens on May 2021, after more than 10 years of refurbishment. This ethnographic museum, founded by Frédéric Mistral himself, is a benchmark in Provençal culture and a heritage gem with its Roman remains classified by UNESCO.