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Historic site · Arles, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Cryptoportiques
Roman underground galleries in a U shape that supported the forum of Arles, with access via the town hall. Being underground, they are cool even in summer.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
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About Cryptoportiques
The Cryptoportiques are underground galleries built by the Romans in the 1st century BC to support the forum, the city's public square. They form a large U of vaulted corridors, with two aisles separated by pillars, which corrected the slope of the ground and served as a base for the colonnades of the square above.
Experts are not certain what other functions the galleries had: storage, a covered passageway, or a cool place to stroll. During World War II they were used as an air-raid shelter by the inhabitants.
The entrance is in the Hôtel de Ville, the town hall, on the place de la République, opposite Saint-Trophime. The descent leads to dimly lit corridors, with damp stone and cool air, where fragments of columns and inscriptions can be seen.
The Cryptoportiques are part of the Arles ensemble listed by the Unesco. On the place du Forum, nearby, two Roman columns embedded in the façade of a hotel are what remains visible of the old forum temple.
Before you go
Practical information
Cidade Turismo reviews its information regularly, but something may have changed. Check with the place before planning your trip.
How much time to set aside
20 to 30 minutes.
Best time
At the hottest times of summer, when the coolness of the galleries helps. Access is not wheelchair accessible because of the stairs. Check opening times before you go.
How to get there
Entrance via the Hôtel de Ville, on the place de la République, in the center, about a 10-minute walk from the Gare d'Arles.
Tip
Bring a light jacket, even in summer: down there the temperature is noticeably lower. Afterwards, see the two Roman columns on the place du Forum.
Get your questions answered
Frequently asked questions about Cryptoportiques
Where is the entrance?
Inside the Hôtel de Ville, the town hall, on the place de la République, opposite the Église de Saint-Trophime.
Is it wheelchair accessible?
No. The descent is by stairs, and the galleries are not adapted.
What were the galleries used for?
They supported the Roman forum, correcting the unevenness of the ground. Their exact use beyond that is not known; they may have served as storage or as a covered passage.