Arelate Festival - Roman Days

A journey to the heart of Roman Antiquity

The Arelate - Roman Days festival was born in 2007 from the desire to revive the ancient past of Arles, one of the most remarkable Roman cities in France. Formerly a colony founded by Julius Caesar, Arelate (its Roman name) was nicknamed the "little Rome of the Gauls" due to the richness of its heritage: arenas, ancient theatre, thermal baths, cryptoporticoes, and the Alyscamps necropolis.

Gladiators, legionaries, and artisans

For a week in August, the festival transforms the ancient monuments of Arles into a living backdrop of the Roman era. Historical reenactment troupes from all over Europe bring gladiator fights in the arenas, legionary parades in the city streets, and ancient craft workshops (mosaics, forging, weaving, Roman cuisine) in the Verrerie gardens and at the museum to life. Spectators become actors by donning togas or tunics to participate in ceremonies and banquets.

Conferences and ancient culture

Beyond the reenactments, Arelate offers a rich cultural program with conferences led by Antiquity specialists — the "Jeudis d'Arelate" (Arelate Thursdays), held from October to June on the third Thursday of the month — and film screenings in partnership with the Peplum Film Festival. The Departmental Museum of Ancient Arles hosts part of the program, providing complementary scientific insights.

An associative and volunteer festival

Arelate is driven by an association of enthusiasts who rely on a network of volunteers and reenactment troupes to animate each edition. This associative foundation ensures the authenticity and conviviality of a festival that invites everyone to "take a two-thousand-year leap back in time and experience Roman Antiquity as if you were there.".