FRANCE

	the countryside, as seen from a train window

ARLES

Located in the Provence region of southeastern France and onverlooking the Rhône Valley, Arles boasts of some magnificent Roman ruins, dating back to its days as a part of the Empire.  Much later on, Van Gogh would come to call this same place home.

	St. Trophime, named for a third-century bishop of Arles, has a classic Romanesque facade		The Cloisture of Saint Trophime.  Here we see Romanesque columns, from the 12th century.
	Les Alyscamps, an ancient Roman and early Christian burial ground (4th through 12th centuries)		The courtyard of the hospital where Van Gogh was looked after
	The Ampitheatre, built in 80 AD, could hold 20,000 spectators		The Rhône meanders lazily in the background, in this view from an Ampitheatre tower.

Return

AVIGNON

Just an easy, twenty-minute train ride north of Arles sits this walled city, featuring the stunning Palace of the Popes.

	The Palace of The Popes, home of The Pope in the 14th century		One of the many narrow alleys in this charming town
	The Rhône Valley, looking out over the defensive wall that used to surround the city		This tower from the old wall still stands today

Return

PARIS

The "City of Lights" has beckoned travelers worldwide for hundreds of years. In a city known for, among other things, its museums, the centerpiece has to be The Louvre. Built in 1200 as a medieval fortress, later a royal palace, it is now home to the Mona Lisa, the Venus de Milo, and some 100,000 other objects d'art. 

	Les Invalides		The city, as seen from the Pompidou Centre. The Eiffel Tower can be seen upper left.
	Louvre		Jardin des Tuilleries
	The Musée d'Orsay - originally a train station		The view along the Seine

Return

Last updated on 05/14/2002

This page, and all photos copyright 1995 - 2000 Steve Hershoff