Arles Roman City Walls

The Arles Roman City Walls are a fortification system that protected the ancient city and stretches for several kilometers around its perimeter. The structure features stone construction with multiple gates and towers positioned throughout to create a complete defensive network.

Construction of this fortification began under Emperor Augustus and continued over several decades as later rulers expanded and reinforced the defenses. The project reflects Rome's strategy to ensure its provincial cities remained secure against threats from outside territories.

The walls were central to protecting a thriving Roman settlement and represent the city's importance as a strategic fortress in southern Gaul. Walking along them today, you experience the Roman commitment to building structures that would outlast centuries of occupation and change.

Several sections of the walls are open to the public and can be explored from different starting points around the city. Wear sturdy footwear since the ground is uneven in places and some routes involve climbing or descending steep sections.

These walls are notably built using stones salvaged from older monuments and arches, a practice that created a layered history within the very structure. If you look closely at the stone patterns, you can spot the different construction phases marked by changes in how the blocks were arranged and finished.

Location: Arles

Part of: Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments

Address: quai Marx-Dormoy

GPS coordinates: 43.67853,4.62443

Latest update: December 9, 2025 20:23