Arles 18.8.2022

For those of you arriving early on Thursday, we will go to visit the Roman city of Arles, the birthplace of Virgile and a city rich in history! This ancient Greek colony got the favors of Cesar due to their help in conquering the city of Massalia (Marseille) in 49BC. After this, the Pax Romana (Roman peace) started in Provence for nearly three centuries and Arles was the center of all provencal roman colonies, showing the wealth and power of the Roman Empire in the region. This explained how the Roman gladiator amphitheater came to exist, an architectural marvel that could seat 20,000 people. Next to it is also located another amphitheater, where mostly ruins can be seen nowadays. After sightseeing the amphitheaters, let’s continue onto the Place de la République, the main plaza in front of the city hall, where stands the Arles Obelisk, a 20m high roman obelisk from the 4th century. Then go for a stroll in the Rue de la République, visit the beautiful gardens at the Espace Van Gogh and go eat ice-cream on the Place du Forum. If you still have some energy for more Van Gogh, go to the Fondation Van Gogh, an art museum dedicated to him, or for more roman art, go to the Musée de l’Arles antique which houses a large collection of antiquities, including a bust of Julius Cesar.

Les Baux-de-Provence  19.8.2022

Before our vow exchange ceremony on Friday, we will be visiting the  medieval town of 500 people and a majestic castle with breath-taking views. Due to its strategic placement on top of a large hill dominating the region, the first trace of human habitat goes back to 6000 BC. In the Middle Age, the legend of the city comes from its apparent lineage to Balthazar, one of the three kings that after Jesus’s birth followed the star of Bethlehem until Les Baux-de-Provence. His descendants claim this illustrious filiation using the star at Sixteen Rais on their coat of arms as well as the motto “à l’asard Bautezar” in other words “at random Balthazar”. The village becomes a true fortified castle with the construction of a fortress between the 11th and 13th centuries. The princes of the Baux controlled a large part of Provence. After losing to the Counts of Provence in the 12th century, it was later attached to the Crown of France. The lordship of Les Baux is given by Louis XIII to the Prince of Monaco in 1642. While after the French Revolution this link is stopped abruptly, the princes of Monaco carry the title of “Marquis des Baux” to this day. Nowadays, this charming village is perfect for a nice stroll in its white stone-paved streets and enjoying the beautiful landscapes from the ruins of the fortification and castle.

Avignon  20.8.2022

This beautiful historical city was a love-at-first-sight for us. Similar to other cities in the region, originally a Greek colony it was conquered by the Romans and was then granted the status of Roman colony in 43 BC. After many changes following the fall of the roman empire, the city is conquered by the Louis VIII in 1226. The city really starts a transfiguration journey when in 1309, Clément V, a French pope feels in danger in Rome and decides for numerous strategical reasons to move to Avignon (including the rivalry between the Church and the Kingdom of France), and later entirely move the papacy there. The French popes stay in Avignon until 1378 and then during the Occidental Schisme from 1378 to 1417. This one century completely transformed Avignon as the epicenter of Occidental Christianity, with the construction of the Palais des Papes between 1334 and 1363 and new fortifications in 1355.