Obélisque d'Arles, Roman obelisk in Place de la République, Arles, France
The Obelisk of Arles is a granite monument that rises majestically above the square, standing on a pedestal with four bronze lions at the corners. The red stone comes from Asia Minor and is surrounded by decorative fountains at its base.
The monument was originally placed in the Roman circus in the 4th century and became damaged over time before its rediscovery in the 14th century. Its transformed appearance shows how the city reinterpreted the past during the Renaissance.
The monument shapes the look of Place de la République, where locals and visitors pass through daily and use the space as a meeting point. Around it, connections form between nearby important buildings like the Town Hall and the Cathedral.
The monument sits centrally on a busy public square and is easy to reach on foot once you arrive in the old town. The best times to visit are early mornings or late afternoons when the square is less crowded.
Unlike other Roman obelisks throughout the Mediterranean, this red granite monument bears no inscriptions on its surface. This unusual feature makes it a mysterious artwork that continues to fascinate archaeologists and visitors.
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