Tarascon

Visit Tarascon, Provence

Tarascon is a lovely Provencal town situated between Arles and Avignon.

Exploring Tarascon

When you arrive in Tarascon the first thing you notice is the fabulous ‘King René’s chateau, a medieval chateau which has been built on the remains of a Roman castrum. The current chateau dates back to the 15th century. It is a very sturdy looking castle with crenelated walls and towers on the banks of the River Rhone.

Enter the town itself and explore the narrow streets which open up onto sunny squares filled with flowers, large plane trees and quite a number of Chusan palms adding an exotic touch. The square outside the tourist office is a nice example.

The church of St Martha is a striking church on the edge of town, near the castle. It is a mixture of Romanesque and Gothic styles. Wander round the back where there are some circular roofs next to a buttress and various decorated spires - this was my favourite view of the church.

The Cloister of the Cordeliers is a lovely renaissance cloister built by a Franciscan Order of Monks, the order of the Cordeliers, so named for the three knots they tied in their ‘belt’.

Before the French Revolution there were as many as fifteen religious communities in Tarascon and so there are quite a number of religious buildings to visit here.

Some of the original ramparts still exist and also two of the three main gates. The Porte Condamine is particularly impressive and looks like a small castle. There were also originally four secondary gates and the Jarnegues gate still exists. Originally this was just a small gate through a tower but it was enlarged in 1646.

Tarascon like many Provencal towns has a large open square shaded by plane trees. Market day is Tuesday morning, with an organic market on Friday mornings.

Attractions nearby

You are spoiled for choice in the region around Tarascon if you enjoy exploring traditional provencal towns with Nimes to the west, Avignon to the north-east and Arles to the south. Another highly recommended trip is to one of our favourite French villages to the west of Tarascon at Baux-de-Provence.

Photos of Tarascon (click any picture to start the gallery)

Suggested places to visit near Tarascon, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Saint-Remy-de-Provence 14km; Glanum 14km; Arles 15km; Pont du Gard 19km; Avignon 20km; Villeneuve-les-Avignon 21km; Fort Saint-Andre 21km; Nimes 24km; Uzes 30km; Pernes-les-Fontaines 39km; Orange 39km; Fontaine-de-Vaucluse 39km; Salon-de-Provence 40km; Camargue 41km; Oppede-le-Vieux 41km; Carpentras 42km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Tarascon

Tarascon tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Jardin aquatique « Aux fleurs de l'eau - remarkable garden (10km) : Alpilles - regional natural parc (15km) : Eglise et cloitres de Saint Trophime, Eglise de Saint-Honorat des Alycamps (Arles) - religious monument (15km) : Notre-Dame-de-Bon-Repos de Montfavet (Avignon) - religious monument (20km) : Abbaye de Saint-Gilles (Saint-Gilles) - religious monument (23km) : Jardins de la Fontaine - remarkable garden (24km) : Jardin de l'Alchimiste - remarkable garden (24km) : Jardin du château de Brantes - remarkable garden (28km) :

French version: see Tarascon (Francais)