Tarascon is a pleasant Provencal town situated between Arles and Avignon. While Tarascon is not the most visited town in Provence, the combination of church, castle and small historic town centre provide some interest.
Explore Tarascon
France This Way review: although it has some sites of interest, including the imposing chateau, Tarascon otherwise has limited attraction to visitors - perhaps visit if you are passing, but we would not make a detour to visit the town since there are several more attractive towns in the region
When you arrive in Tarascon the first thing you see is the Chateau de Tarascon, a medieval chateau that dominates the town centre and 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.
Inside the castle you can see the Royal apartments, where the highlights are several tapestries and the graffiti carved into the walls when the castle was used as a prison (until 1826) - some of it is very detailed.
The Collegiale 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 is my favourite view of the church. Inside you can see the tomb of the saint.
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 other religious buildings to visit here.
After admiring the castle and church you can enter the town itself and explore the small historic centre. This is only a short walk from the castle, and includes an impressive town hall.
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.
You should also take a look at the 17th century Town Hall which has a balcony and a carved facade.
You will see a charming street with arcades along both sides, called the Rue des Halles, between the Porte Madame and the Porte Jarnegues, next to the town hall, which was the centre of activity in Tarascon, with fish markets and butchers active here. The arcades were added to the street in the 17th and 18th centuries.
Tarascon, like many Provencal towns, has a large open square shaded by plane trees, although the buildings here are less interesting to visitors. Market day is Tuesday morning, with an organic market on Friday mornings.
You will find two small museums in Tarascon although both are quite specialised: the Museum Souleiado is dedicated to the history of textiles in the town and the Museum de Tartarin is dedicated to the character Tartarin, from a popular character in Provencal literature.
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.
You can find more travel ideas in the Bouches-du-Rhone guide and the Provence guide.
To make travel arrangements to visit Tarascon see HERE
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Map of Tarascon and places nearby
Places to visit near Tarascon
Chateau de Tarascon
The Chateau de Tarascon is an imposing 15th century castle on the banks of the Rhone
Chateau de Tarascon guide
Chateau de Beaucaire
The Chateau de Beaucaire is a castle in ruins with a triangular keep and a romanesque chapel
Chateau de Beaucaire guide
Beaucaire
Beaucaire is well situated for exploring the popular towns of Arles, Nimes and Avignon
Beaucaire guide
Fontvieille
This town near Arles has a small historic centre to explore when you are passing
Fontvieille guide
Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence
The Carrieres de Lumieres is a sound and light spectacle based around famous artists works, in the village of Les Baux-de-Provence
Carrières de Lumières in Baux-de-Provence guide
Baux-de-Provence
The village of Baux-de-Provence is small but exceptionally picturesque, and has beautiful views across the Provencal countryside. Unmissable!
Baux-de-Provence guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Bouches-du-Rhone
Address: Tarascon, Arles, Provence, 13150, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 43.8058, longitude 4.66028
Plan your visit to Tarascon, Bouches-du-Rhone
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Beaucaire: recommended detour
- Jardin aquatique « Aux fleurs de l'eau: remarkable garden (10 km)
- Abbaye Notre Dame de Montmajour (Arles): religious monument (11 km)
- Montmajour Abbey: national monument (11 km)
- Baux-de-Provence: most beautiful village (13 km)
- Glanum: national monument (14 km)
- Arles: secteur sauvegarde (14 km)
- Roman Arles: heritage site (14 km)
- Eglise et cloitres de Saint Trophime, Eglise de Saint-Honorat des Alycamps (Arles): religious monument (15 km)
- Alpilles: regional natural parc (15 km)
- Arles église St Honorat (monuments on French pilgrim routes): heritage site (15 km)
- Pont du Gard: grand site of france (19 km)
The French version of this page is at Tarascon (Francais)