Obélisque d'Arles
Obélisque d'Arles, Roman obelisk in Place de la République, Arles, France
Description
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.
History
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.
Culture
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.
Practical
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.
Did you know?
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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Church of St. Trophime, Arles
50 m
Saint-Trophime cloister in Arles
41 m
Town hall of Arles
49 m
Église Sainte-Anne d'Arles
39 m
Cryptoportiques d'Arles
53 m
Stoning of Saint Etienne
78 m
Hôtel Damian de Vinsargues
41 m
Hôtel de Lestang-Parade
41 m
Former archbishop's palace (Arles)
23 m
Old Saint-Trophime Cathedral, cloister and cloister buildings
60 m
Magi Kings' side chapel
58 m
Christ à la colonne (Arles Saint-Trophime)
37 m
St Peter statue (Arles Saint-Trophime)
65 m
Adoration of the Magi (Ludovicus Finson)
65 m
St Paul statue (Arles Saint-Trophime)
65 m
Madona and Child in Arles
76 m
Delivery of the lily to Saint Anthony of Padua (Arles Saint-Trophime)
53 m
Hôtel de Viguier
73 m
Stoup 1611 in St Trophimus church in Arles
41 m
Vestiges enceinte romaine
50 m
Palais des Podestats
68 m
Paleochristian sarcophagus with double register of arches
54 m
Paire de lions
52 m
Fence of the altar the Chapel of the Magi in Arles
58 m
Gaspard du Laurens funerary Monument
60 m
Pulpit to preach of His Grace Dulau , Archbishop of Arles
58 m
The Blind Man and the Lame
32 m
Retable de la chapelle des Rois (Arles Saint-Trophime)
65 mDiscover hidden gems everywhere you go!
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