Alyscamps

Arles, France

The Alyscamps is a large Roman necropolis, which is a short distance outside the walls of the old town of Arles. It was one of the most famous necropolises of the ancient world.

Roman cities traditionally forbade burials within the city limits. It was therefore common for the roads immediately outside a city to be lined with tombs and mausoleums; the Appian Way outside Rome provides a good example. The Alyscamps was Arles' main burial ground for nearly 1,500 years. It was the final segment of the Aurelian Way leading up to the city gates and was used as a burial ground for well-off citizens, whose memorials ranged from simple sarcophagi to elaborate monuments. In 1981, the Alyscamps was classified a UNESCO World Heritage Site, as part of the Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments group.

History

The Alyscamps continued to be used after the city was Christianised in the 4th century. Saint Genesius, a Roman civil servant beheaded in 303 for refusing to follow orders to persecute Christians, was buried there and rapidly became the focus of a cult. Saint Trophimus, possibly the first bishop of Arles, was buried there soon afterwards. It was claimed that Christ himself attended the ceremony, leaving the imprint of his knee on a sarcophagus lid.

The area became a highly desirable place to be buried and tombs soon multiplied. As early as the 4th century there were already several thousand tombs, necessitating the stacking of sarcophagi three layers deep. Burial in the Alyscamps became so desirable that bodies were shipped there from all over Europe, with the Rhône boatmen making a healthy profit from the transportation of coffins to Arles.

The Alyscamps continued to be used well into medieval times, although the removal of Saint Trophimus' relics to the cathedral in 1152 reduced its prestige. During the Renaissance the necropolis was systematically looted, with city councillors giving sarcophagi as gifts to distinguished visitors and local people using funerary stones as building material. It was further damaged by the arrival of the railway and a canal in the 19th century, both of which sliced across the site. In late October 1888 Vincent van Gogh and Paul Gauguin chose the Alyscamps as the first site for their expeditions where they painted side by side; by this time it was a remnant of its former self. It has since been somewhat restored as an open-air museum.

The better of the remaining sarcophagi are now on display in the Musée de l'Arles et de la Provence antiques, which has one of the best collections of Roman sarcophagi to be found anywhere outside Rome itself.

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Details

Founded: 4th century AD
Category: Prehistoric and archaeological sites in France
Historical period: Roman Gaul (France)

More Information

en.wikipedia.org

Rating

4.2/5 (based on Google user reviews)

User Reviews

Chloe (6 months ago)
I just wanted to follow Gogh's steps. I had a peaceful time walking here :)
Angela Dieball (7 months ago)
It is exactly what it says, a bit of history does the mind good. Plus it is only a short walk from the city center.
Gerry Slavin (9 months ago)
This is a stunning park full of ancient Roman ruins in the beautiful city of Arles. So atmospheric and fascinating. If you’re at all interested in the Roman empire then the Alyscamps is well worth a visit. It’s also part of the Vincent Van Gogh trail in Arles and there is informative signage (in French) telling the story of him coming to the park to paint the scene with the sarcophagi lining the path.
Christy (11 months ago)
Lovely place to visit with a special energy. The gardens themselves are really nice and the Church at the end is beautiful. Also the woman at the ticket box was super helpful and nice, she brightened our day!
Brendan Voelz (2 years ago)
Very cool and eerie place to visit. It was entirely empty when I was there. Some interesting history.
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