Forum
MonumentHidden Treasure
Forum, located in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a medieval landmark built in the Middle Ages. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Medieval (11th-15th century)
- Location
- Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.6771, 4.6265
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081140
At the heart of ancient Arles, the Roman Forum reveals two millennia of superimposed history: underground cryptoporticos, Corinthian columns and a public square where the heart of Narbonne Gaul beat.
History
Beneath the Place de la République and the narrow streets of old Arles lies one of the most ambitious achievements of Roman town planning in Gaul: the Forum d'Arles, a vast public space that for several centuries was the nerve centre of Arelate, a leading Roman colony. Its most striking feature is the cryptoporticus, the horseshoe-shaped underground galleries dug out as early as the 1st century BC, which served as both monumental foundations and multi-purpose spaces - warehouses, refuges, mysterious places of worship - depending on the period. What fundamentally distinguishes the Forum d'Arles from other ancient remains in the region is its incredible palimpsest: each era built on the previous one without ever completely erasing the traces of its predecessors. In this way, we can read in the stone the stratification of more than fifteen centuries of history, from the imperial ambitions of Rome to the medieval reappropriations of the twelfth century, when monks and burghers recovered columns and entablatures to erect their own buildings. A visit to the cryptoporticos is a sensory experience in its own right: the perpetual coolness of the vaulted galleries, the muffled echo of footsteps on the stone slabs, the light filtering through the rare skylights create an atmosphere of rare temporal density. You can physically feel the weight of history, the permanence of the place despite the revolutions that have passed through it. On the surface, a few surviving Corinthian columns recall the majestic layout of the temple and porticoes that framed the public square, while the Musée Départemental Arles Antique - just a few minutes' walk away - preserves the sculptures, inscriptions and artefacts discovered during the excavations, essential for mentally reconstructing the grandeur of the site in its original context.
Architecture
The Forum at Arles followed the classic layout of Roman imperial forums: a vast rectangular square lined with columned porticoes, dominated by a podium temple at one end and flanked by civic buildings - curia, judicial basilica - on the long sides. The whole complex covered an area estimated at over a hectare, making Arelate an urban centre worthy of Rome's ambitions in southern Gaul. The most exceptional feature remains the network of underground cryptoporticoes: three barrel-vaulted galleries, built of limestone ashlar, form a U approximately 89 metres long for the north gallery and 59 metres for each of the side branches. The vaulted ceiling is around 4.50 metres high, and the galleries are punctuated by squat pillars that support the whole. Natural lighting is provided by skylights in the vault on the east side. The masonry is remarkably regular, demonstrating the technical mastery typical of 1st-century Roman builders. On the surface, only a few elements still bear witness to the original magnificence: fragments of white marble Corinthian columns, sculpted entablature segments and pilaster bases, visible as replacements in the surrounding medieval façades or preserved in the museum. Excavations revealed traces of limestone and marble paving, as well as statue bases confirming the decorative splendour of this public space at the time of its splendour.
Related Figures
Jules César — fondateur de la colonie d'Arelate en 46 av. J.-C., donnant au forum son cadre urbain initialAuguste — dont le règne voit l'achèvement et l'embellissement du forum dans sa forme monumentaleDioclétien — séjourne à Arles à la fin du IIIe siècle, période de renouveau monumental de la citéConstantin le Grand — fait d'Arles une résidence impériale privilégiée au IVe siècle, y tenant des concilesFrédéric Mistral — figure tutélaire de la Provence qui contribua au rayonnement du patrimoine arlésien et dont le musée Arlaten est implanté à proximité du forumAuguste Véran — archéologue arlésien du XIXe siècle qui participa aux premières fouilles systématiques des cryptoportiques
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Forum located?
Forum is located in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Forum built?
Forum dates back to a period built in the Middle Ages (11th-15th century).
Is Forum open to visitors?
Forum is currently closed to visitors.