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The Alyscamps necropolis and Saint Honnorat church
Description
Les Alyscamps, a Christian necropolis listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, offers a walk lined with remarkable sarcophagi. At the heart of the site, the church of Saint-Honorat marks the starting point of the Chemin d'Arles to Compostelle.
This emblematic site, immortalized by Vincent Van Gogh in his works, is a veritable treasure trove of Provence. With every step you take between the majestic rows of slender cypress trees, you'll feel the evocative power of this place steeped in history.
Les Alyscamps is much more than just a Roman cemetery. History lovers will find an alley of sarcophagi and chapels. Pilgrims will find the starting point of the Chemin d'Arles (a UNESCO World Heritage site) to Santiago de Compostela. And everyone will find a haven of tranquillity, where time seems to stand still.
At the very heart of the Alyscamps site is the church of Saint-Honorat, a jewel of medieval architecture that plays a key role for pilgrims. Dating back to the 12th century, this spiritual site marks the starting point of the Chemin d'Arles, one of France's main routes to Santiago de Compostela. With its carved portal and serene atmosphere, the church invites contemplation and is the perfect introduction to this historic and spiritual route.
With Luma Arles and Frank Gehry's modern Tower in the background, Les Alyscamps is a testament to the link between past and present, a place where history, art and nature blend harmoniously. To visit this site is to immerse yourself in a unique experience, where the soul of the place is revealed to those who take the time to explore it.
To make the most of your visit, we recommend purchasing a pass (available from our online ticketing service), which will enable you to visit the city's various museums and monuments more economically. Guided tours and cultural events take place during every school vacation.
Please note that although most of the site is accessible to people with reduced mobility, some areas may be difficult to access.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Date and time
- From 01/03/2025 to 30/04/2025 from 09:00 to 18:00
- From 01/05/2025 to 30/09/2025 from 09:00 to 19:00
- From 01/10/2025 to 31/10/2025 from 09:00 to 18:00
- From 02/11/2025 to 01/03/2026 from 10:30 to 16:30
- From 01/03/2026 to 30/04/2026 from 09:00 to 18:00
- From 01/05/2026 to 30/09/2026 from 09:00 to 19:00
- From 01/10/2026 to 31/10/2026 from 09:00 to 18:00
- From 02/11/2026 to 01/03/2027 from 10:30 to 16:30
Additional information
Price(s)
Full price: 5 € Reduced price: 4 €.
Updated by
Office de Tourisme d'Arles - 14/03/2025
www.arlestourisme.com
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Open period
From 01/03 to 30/04, daily between 9 am and 6 pm. From 01/05 to 30/09, daily between 9 am and 7 pm. Closed exceptionally on May 1st. From 01/10 to 31/10, daily between 9 am and 6 pm. From 02/11 to 01/03, daily between 10.30 am and 4.30 pm. Closed exceptionally on January 1st and December 25th. Last entry 4 p.m.
History, culture and heritage
In ancient times, cemeteries were located outside city walls and along major roads. From the beginning of the Empire, cremation tombs, sarcophagi and mausoleums sprang up along the Via Aurelia, forming a vast necropolis. The allée des Alyscamps that remains today was laid out by the Minimes monks in the 18th century. In 1888, Van Gogh and Gauguin came to paint in these romantic "Champs Elysées" of Arles. In the Middle Ages, the site was home to numerous vaults, chapels and funerary monuments. Little remains of these constructions. Located at the entrance to the site, next to the church of Saint-Césaire-le-Vieux, of which only the Romanesque porch remains, the chapel of Saint-Accurse was built in 1520, in expiation for the death of Accurse de la Tour, killed in a duel by another Arles nobleman. Further along on the right stands an imposing monument: the Consuls' Monument, erected in the 18th century in honor of the town councillors who died in the plague of 1721. Shortly afterwards, on the left, stands the funeral chapel of the Porcelet family, built in the 16th century.
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