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We started our day with a visit of Montmajour. Montmajour is a fortress-like former abbey.
From outside it is impressive:



Montmajour seen from Arles:


After entering the complex we visited the crypt:




A little tour through the outdoor areas:









Chapel:





Tower with view:




The church:





Cloister:




Absolutely worth a visit and one of the most impressive abbeys in the region.

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The Theatre Antique was once as huge as the one in Orange, but it was used over the years as a quarry. Today still something survived. It can also be seen well from outside but was included in our Arles passport.

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Next stop on our Arles-tour were the Arenes. Also misused for bullfights, nevertheless a nice building.





Inside it´s mostly equipped with more or less modern tiers.







You can enjoy a nice view over the surroundings (and spot Montmajour):

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We did a short visit to Thermes de Constantin after we had to learn that that Musée Réattu was closed today. Pretty nice but no must see.

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Eglise des Frères Prêcheurs is former gothic church which is now used as an exhibition hall.

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Fondation van Gogh is a modern small museum which shows some not really interesting art more or less related to van Gogh. In the moment it´s Alice Neel, but I didn´t take a picture (says all). More interesting was the exhibition with works by van Gogh (mainly) from the Bührle collection, in fact it was one room with 8 pictures.









The exhibition was called “Calm and Exaltation. Van Gogh in the Bührle Collection”. Also a good title: “Borrow 8 pictures from van Gogh and hang them on the wall”.
Entrance is 9 €, 7 € with Arles pass. Not underpaid.....

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Next we went to Place de la Republique.


Our main objective was Saint Trophime with it´s beautiful porch:




Friedrich I Barbarossa was crowned at the church, it´s relative modest inside:









We also visited the cloister which is a separate museum:




They also show some tapestries in a room of the bishop’s palace:

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Kryptoportikus are the remains of the Forum. The entrance is inside the Hotel de Ville


Once down the stairs you mainly see corridors and some rooms. Not bad but no must see.

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The Musée Arles Antiques is the most important antique Museum of the region and has some superb artefacts on display. The presentation is modern.


Many stones and sarcophagi:








Centrepiece is a barge from the first century with accessories:




Antique pottery:
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Mosaics:

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Alyscamps is a Roman necropolis which was used later as Christian cemetry.








At the end of the alley you can find the remains of St. Honorat.


The church is a ruin today, only the choir left over:







Today it´s home of many pigeons.
Way back:


Nice place and well worth a visit.

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Glanum is a Greek/ Roman village which was founded 200 b.C. Near the parking-lot you first see the Mausoleum of the Julii




On its side is the Triumphal Arch:




You have to cross the street to reach the main archaeological site. At this point I have a question. Why do they paint this funny white stripes on the road? Has it a meaning? Perhaps: Don´t stop your car? Or: Faster? This sign with a red circle and a 30 inside must also have a special meaning. I guess something like: 30 kilometres x wheels of your vehicle = minimum speed.
After visiting the small museum I could get the first views on the site:



Let´s do a tour:














From a small hill I had good prospects of the site:







Way back to the Exit:



Glanum-racetrack:

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Shortly before our vacation the new Guide Michelin came out and near our hotel in Saint Remy come a new Michelin-starred restaurant up. Fanny Rey (before Auberge Reine Jeanne). New awarded restaurants are always interesting so we decided to give it a try.
We learned that Fanny Rey participated in a French TV-show. Pastry chef is Jonathan Wahid.
The restaurant is modern furnished.




The menu - especially the Wellness & Balance menu is incredible value.


Amuse Bouche

Good!

Non-alcoholic cocktail:


Bread


Broth Wellness

Very fresh, I liked it!

Langoustines

I had 2.... Also very fresh with good textures.

Flowers

Beautiful dish in all ways! The highlight of the menu.

Red mullet

Without doubt good, but not as good as the other dishes.

Cheese:


Strawberry cocktail

Nice

Chocolaterie

Very good desert!

Petit Fours:


I enjoyed our meal, Fanny Rey has definitively potential. I guess we will hear some things from this restaurant in the future. Only thing I was angry about, that I din´t eat twice and did instead the long drive to terrible Le Vivier.

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In the morningwe left Les Baux. First stop on the way was Saint Maximin la Sainte Baume. The church Sainte Madeleine is dedicated to Maria Magdalena, who should have live 30 years without food. She is buried in the crypt.
From outside it´s on the one hand impressive, on the other hand the facade is a little bit DDR-style.


Inside the church is huge with some opulent art:






Crypt:

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Next came Le Thoronet, the third of the 3 sisters. It was confiscated and sold in 1791, but purchased back by the state in 1840.
Entrance:


Church and convent:



Fountain:


The church:




Dormitory:


On the roof:



The cloister:



Pump house:

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My company had 1 big goal – Musée International de la Parfumerie in Grasse! So OK, we visited this place of dreams in the city of the 100.000 Parfum-stores.
The museum in an old villa:


First we could visit a “garden” with plants which are used by the Parfum-industry.


It was followed by flacons and other items from different centuries:











Some art:


Last part were about the production process:





Interesting museum but not worth a big detour. Even my company shares this opinion