We are going to be in Provence in September and really want to go to Arles. Turns out that the Feria d’Arles is the weekend we will be nearby. Has anyone done this - we want to see all of Arles and wonder if the crowds for the Feria will be a distraction or an special plus!!
Posted by
Chicago
8552 posts
five years ago we were driving from Cadouin to Roquebrune Cap Martin and wanted a break in the middle and so months in advance I booked a very central hotel in Arles with parking. Unknown to me it was the annual festival complete with running of the bulls. We rolled into town about 4 pm and there were cars parked in every available spot and some that weren't finding spots were perched on traffic islands and other non parking spots; many roads were closed, blocked off by police, and we had no way to get to our hotel using our apps. A couple of local girls we asked for directions got in our car and guided us on back streets to the hotel where we discovered that because we had not specifically booked the parking there was none available. We were about to give up and drive on but the clerk told us she could direct us to parking and we should unload our bags so we did. We then drove about a mile out and over the Rhone when we saw someone pull out of a parking spot and grabbed it and walked back to the hotel.
We then wandered from our very central hotel a couple of blocks where we ran into the running of the bulls just as it began and watched which was delightful. (it is not the carnage of Pamplona -- it is local teenage boys showing off with very well padded young bulls)
https://janettravels.wordpress.com/2016/11/20/quick-stop-in-arles/
We then wandered around town where people were partying in the streets and eventually joined a communal table at a restaurant serving paella in an alley under the stars. The whole thing was a great deal of fun and it was the best paella we have ever had.
If you go be sure you have booked parking and lodging well in advance as the town is booked solid; our hotel advertised parking and we didn't realize we needed to book a spot. And you want to have lodging in the center where everything is walkable; you can't drive and park during this period. It was totally a surprise to us; we had no idea there was a festival that week, but it turned out to be a really happy surprise.