© moodindigo
© rene boulay
© Pascal S
Les Alyscamps
An ancient cemetery & Medieval church with tombs from the Roman & medieval eras
Graves, mausoleums and sarcophagi at this site date back to the beginning of the Roman empire, but it wasn't until the early Christian period that there was a large flurry of activity here.
This came about partly due to the burial of Saint Genest and the first bishops of Arles, and the cemetery later became a compulsory stage of the Santiago de Compostels pilgrimage route.
In Roman times cremation was to most popular practise, with remains placed in a mausoleum, designated family area or under a stone bearing an epitaph.
Today the site is a calm and peaceful place to visit, not far from the centre of Arles. It was made into a pathway by the Minimes monks in the 18th century and remains a popular place to visit.
