Iconic Life

Every summer, for more than 50 years, Arles has been alive with photography. With over forty exhibitions staged in venues steeped in history, the Rencontres d'Arles helps to raise the profile of the city and the region, pass on its photographic heritage and shine a spotlight on the new world photography scene.

The annual Rencontres d'Arles photography festival was founded in 1970 by photographer Lucien Clergue, writer Michel Tournier and historian Jean-Maurice Rouquette. At the time, photography was considered a "minor" art form and had yet to gain recognition. The Arles festival was to make a major contribution to this recognition: from being a simple meeting place for photo enthusiasts, it naturally grew over the years into a major and extremely popular cultural event.

In addition to exhibitions, the Rencontres d'Arles offers conferences, debates, workshops and evening events, giving participants the opportunity to exchange ideas with professionals from the sector.

The historic setting of the city of Arles adds a unique dimension to the experience. The heritage sites in which the exhibitions are set up (ancient theatres, chapels, 12th-century cloisters, 19th-century industrial buildings, etc.) enhance the works and make the exhibitions even more impactful.

Not to be missed this year: American documentary photographer, storyteller and portraitist Mary Ellen Mark at the Espace Van Gogh; Japanese photographers confronting the Fukushima cataclysm; Sophie Calle at the Forum; Bruce Eesly's New Farmer, a collection of documentary photographs from the 1960s, and more.

An event to be enjoyed while staying at L'Étoile des Baux, our property located below the citadel of Les Baux-de-Provence, just 30 minutes from Arles and the Camargue.