Arles, spiritual capital of Provence, is located where the mighty Rhône meets the Camargue and was founded by the veterans of Julius Caesar's crack Sixth legion. And while it has world class Roman buildings (that are still in active use today), it's probably more famous for being the place where Vincent Van Gogh came in search of light - the art world hasn't been the same since.
Its proximity to the Camargue National Park makes it a great base for exploring the precious biosphere with its flocks of flamingos and semi-wild white horses.
Highlights
Visit the Roman sites, including the Arena, Theatre and Alyscamps (necropolis)
Follow in the footsteps of Vincent van Gogh - see many of the locations he painted, the hospital he stayed in and the Fondation Vincent Van Gogh which is dedicated to his work, as well as showcasing artists of our time.(see the video / article below).
See flamingos, coypu and white wild horses in nearby Carmargue - hiring a bike in Arles is a great way to explore and here's a map of routes you can take.
Station stroll ideas
If you have an hour or two to spare waiting for a train, why not go for a wander?
The tourist information office have provided a set of walking routes which you might find useful here.
I've also put together a downloadable PDF of a series of walks which takes in most of the van-Gogh related sights starting at the station and a google map which you can use on your phone.
Guided Tours
There are details of guided tours here.
Luggage
You can stow your luggage (and rent a bike) opposite the station at Taco and Co. for around 5 Euros.
If you want to have a look around first, here's a video I made.
In this short video I have a wander around the place that transformed Vincent van Gogh's work.
..and here's a written version.
Getting there
Arles is easy to get to by train. If you are coming from Paris, you can change at Avignon (3 hours) where there are regular inexpensive trains which take just quarter of an hour.
It's also a great place to stop en-route to Marseille and the French Riviera, or onwards to Nimes and Spain.
Useful links
Tourist information: https://www.arlestourisme.com
Fondation Vincent van Gogh: https://fondation-vincentvangogh-arles.org
UNESCO - Alres, Roman and Romanesque monuments: https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/164/