Art Hotel
Provincial capital of ancient Rome and home of painter Vincent Van Gogh, Arles is a fascinatingly eclectic tourist destination. Whether it’s for its confidential art galleries scattered around the city, its amphitheatre and Roman arena or its many typical cafés and restaurants, the city at the gateway to the Camargue has the wind in its sails. While the Hoffmann family put the Vincent Van Gogh Foundation back in the spotlight in 2008 to promote contemporary art on the international scene, the hotel l’Arlatanis an intimate setting where art and culture predominate. Discover an establishment of gentle madness in a city of mad charm.
© L’Arlatan
Private mansion
You have to lose yourself in the narrow streets of the town center to really feel the energies emanating from this Provencal village. Take your time, dream and stroll are the watchwords. Why not imagine yourself in 1888, when the town’s most famous ambassador painted “Le Pont de Langlois”, before slicing off his left earlobe, a precursor to his illness. L’Arlatan, already regarded in the Middle Ages as the most majestic of the town’s mansions, is just around the corner. Leaning against one of the ancient walls of the Thermes de Constantin, the hotel is an integral part of Arles and vice-versa.
With an explosion of color, light and contemporary design spread over a gigantic mosaic of more than 6,000 m2, the hotel has recently undergone a facelift thanks to the exceptional vision of artist Jorge Pardo. The majestic staircase leading to the 35 rooms has already become an Instagrammable phenomenon. Each home is a unique piece, a work of art. More than two million mosaic fragments were used in the renovations, all hand-crafted. Listed as historic monuments, the hotel’s various buildings are arranged around a magnificent patio.
Arles has become a must-see address for all contemporary art enthusiasts. With l’Arlatan as its residential accommodation, the town has an additional asset, where art can be seen everywhere.
© L’Arlatan
