We were there yesterday. It has a reasonably small but impressive collection of Roman antiquities well displayed. It is worth visiting just to see the ancient barge that was raised from the river bed just up near the bridge in 2011. Do watch the half hour video of the effort to raise the barge although it is in French still easy to follow. Getting there is easy five minute walk from centre.
Wow! The artifacts are amazing...wish they had audio guides in different languages to make the details more interesting. Many of the plaques were only in French, and this museum has so much history and folklore to offer. The models of the theater and coliseum as we'll as race track helped visualize them in their glory days
This is by far the best places to park in or near Arles, and take the free shuttle around town. Picnic tables, and a nice park.English signs are common only in the newer areas, but appreciating the core of the exhibits: the models of the floating bridge and the flour mill, and the reconstructed transport boat (along with the film about its discovery and the process of preservation) are true *** attractions: worth a trip in and of themselves.
We were told that we needed to visit this relatively new museum at the end of the city of Arles. So glad that we did stop. It's a big contemporary building and it is very spacious. The entry price is not expensive (8 Eur) for the information and type of museum. It was very informative. Unfortunately all of the exhibits are marked in French (a couple large important ones have some English), but there is a handout that is given to you upon entry. Nevertheless, the Roman artifacts found and collected here are very nice. An original bust of Julius Caesar in good conditon and also a large Roman wooded barge that was found buried under the Rhone River is in the center of one wing of the museum. Once could be there for one hour and feel that they got their value for what they paid, or you could spend hours and read and see every item. Whichever one wants, this is a nice new museum and has a nice collection of Roman artifacts - all concerning the city of Arles. Glad we came for this visit!
Although the parking lot and environs are a bit run down and "dingy" this is a really well thought out museum. You are really able to get a sense and feel of Roman history. Quality displays and recreations abound, definitely worth a visit when you are in Arles.
It is not a very big museum but with some very interesting archaeological display showing the daily life of Roman people. The most impressive thing to see is the 31-meter long Roman-era boat dated back to 50-60 A.D. which they found at the bottom of the river Rhone. There is a film explaining how they dug it out and preserved it.
Stepping in the foot steps of Julius Caesar one finds Arles was quite a prominent Roman village. This museum well displays that fact with antiquities as well as models that recreate the Flavius Amphitheater (aka a coliseum), the dramatic theater and Forum as well as the hippodrome (race track). Who knew amphora were specific to cargo- fat ones for olive oil and slender ones for wine? Situated with a garden featuring Roman flora and along the Rhone, this is a wonderful place to soak up history. They do have an English brochure.
An excellent well layed out museum with friendly, informative staff. If you are interested in Roman History you must visit.
Very spacious museum that gives a good overview of the early history of the area. Excellent maps,relics,mosaicsetc.
My idea of a good museum is one full of historical artifacts, displayed clearly, and with easily accessible history. This museum does that. It is well laid out with loads of artifacts, a couple of which are breathtaking, with maps and models alongside to help you understand how Roman Arles was laid out and functioned. There is an amazing 2000 year old boat - someone must have been excited to dig thst up! Most of the captions are in french, but the display boards include english translations. The way is not well sign posted and the outside doesnt look like much, but the musee is well worth a visit!