Spending Two Days in Arles, Nicknamed the "Little Rome of Provence": A Guide Curated by Our Lifestyle Editor
Arles, a coastal commune in southern France, is gearing up for an unforgettable summer as it hosts two major events: the photography festival Les Rencontres d'Arles 2025 and a series of culinary experiences that promise to tantalise the taste buds.
From July to early October, Les Rencontres d'Arles will immerse visitors in a vibrant celebration of photography. This year's theme, "Disobedient Images," focuses on photography as a tool for resistance and cultural exchange. The festival is organised around six thematic chapters, with must-see exhibitions including Nan Goldin's multimedia slideshow, Stendhal Syndrome, and Claudia Andujar's In Place of Another.
Beyond the exhibitions, the festival offers a dynamic programme including the Arles Books Fair, portfolio reviews, screenings, and public talks that deepen engagement with contemporary photography and its themes. The Night of the Year, a long-standing annual event, features exhibitions, night screenings, and photography workshops, creating a lively nocturnal atmosphere in Arles centred on photographic culture.
Institutions such as the WhiteWall photo lab support exhibitions and special projects during the festival, providing added experiences and insight into photographic production and display. Visitors can also discover diverse photographic narratives, from personal memory explorations to raw street photography and artistic reflections on social issues.
In addition to the photography festival, Arles offers a variety of culinary delights. La Chassagnette, a Michelin-starred restaurant in the Camargue Regional Nature Park, offers gluten-free, vegetarian-focused dishes with inventive and colorful food presentation, lush views, and an idyllic atmosphere.
WE ARE ONA has taken over La Villa Bank, a modernist gem designed by Émile Sala, for a six-day exclusive food experience. The menu, authored by American-Thai chef Dalad Kambhu, features an American-Thai fusion, with India Mahdavi on table and stool design, and glassware by Sophie Lou Jacobsen.
Inari, Chef Celine Pham's first permanent restaurant, offers a fusion of Vietnamese and French cuisine, creating a heartwarming, intimate dining experience in a historic chapel in Arles. Chardon, a bistro and wine bar in Arles, features rotating chefs in residence, offering three-course menus.
For those seeking a unique coffee shop experience, Mazette !, a boho-meets-modern rustic coffee shop, is known for its commitment to organic, local products and naturally lit rooms ideal for brunch or work-from-home setup. VAGUE Café, located in a former chapel, is a coffee shop run by Japanese interdisciplinary collective Teruhiro Yanagihara Studio.
Le Cloître, a whimsical boutique hotel designed by Iranian-French architect and designer India Mahdavi, has a restaurant called L'Épicerie du Cloître. Arles was originally founded by the Greeks and became a Roman settlement from as early as 46 BC, when Emperor Julius Caesar took it over. Today, it expands across 759 square kilometers and is a must-visit destination for both photography enthusiasts and food lovers alike.
[1] https://www.lesrencontresdarles.com/en/ [2] https://www.arles-tourisme.com/en/ [3] https://www.luma-arles.org/en/ [4] https://www.whitewall.fr/en/ [5] https://www.lesrencontresdarchives.com/en/
- The photography festival Les Rencontres d'Arles 2025 showcases the art of photography with an emphasis on disobedient images that challenge and exchange culture, presenting events such as Nan Goldin's Stendhal Syndrome and Claudia Andujar's In Place of Another.
- In addition to the photographic exhibitions, visitors can participate in the Arles Books Fair, attend portfolio reviews, and engage in public talks to deepen understanding of contemporary photography themes.
- The Night of the Year event offers photography workshops, night screenings, and exhibitions to create a lively, nocturnal atmosphere centered on photographic culture.
- Institutions like WhiteWall photo lab support special projects during the festival, providing additional experiences and insight into photographic production and display.
- Arles provides visitors with a culinary trend, as seen in establishments like La Chassagnette, which offers gluten-free, vegetarian dishes with colorful presentation, or WE ARE ONA's exclusive American-Thai food experience at La Villa Bank.
- Le Cloître, a whimsical boutique hotel, features the L'Épicerie du Cloître restaurant and is located in Arles, a former Roman settlement originally founded by the Greeks in 46 BC, now a must-visit destination for both photography enthusiasts and food lovers alike.
