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Full presentation
A medieval cloister in central Arles
Saint-Trophime Cloister lies beyond the Archbishop’s Palace courtyard on Place de la République, beside the former cathedral. Its Romanesque and Gothic galleries surround an inner courtyard, while the adjoining rooms host exhibitions. The City of Arles includes these spaces in its temporary municipal venue-hire scheme. Cultural, association or corporate projects must be submitted to the municipal services for review of their purpose and suitability for the monument.
The monument and adjoining rooms
The municipal schedule distinguishes the cloister itself from its three separately listed rooms. A 2025 exhibition agreement documents a 153-square-metre room on the ground floor and a 157-square-metre room on the first floor. These areas describe the spaces used for that exhibition; they are not guest capacities. Attendance, setup, furniture and circulation routes must be agreed for each event.
Two Romanesque galleries from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries sit alongside two Gothic galleries completed in the fourteenth century. Columns, carved capitals, vaults and roof terraces give the site a distinctive architectural character. The cloister forms part of the Roman and Romanesque Monuments of Arles inscribed on the World Heritage List in 1981. The intended use of each room and conservation requirements belong in the event planning process.
Prices depend on the event scheme
A private reception closed to the public requires an individually approved decision and price. For events open to the public, the schedule effective from 1 January 2024 gives reference valuations per 24-hour period: €3,500 for the cloister from April to October, €2,100 from November to March and €450 for each of the three rooms, with no seasonal variation stated for those rooms. These figures support fee calculations under the public-event scheme and do not constitute private-hire quotations.
The public calculation also takes account of the organiser’s status and, where relevant, lost visitor revenue and event ticket sales. Lost admission revenue for the cloister is valued at €120 per closure hour in high season and €60 in low season. Spaces are provided in their existing condition, with utilities included in the basic valuation. Equipment loans and additional services may cost extra. A temporary occupancy agreement formalises the arrangement.
Exhibitions and heritage visits
The cloister’s rooms were among the exhibition spaces actually made available for the 2025 cultural season. This continues the site’s established use for art, heritage displays and cultural events. A cloister visit may accompany a programme, arranged separately according to availability. Advertised visitor admission for 2026–2027 is €6 at full price and €5 at the reduced rate, with free admission for visitors under 18.
Planning access and times
The entrance is reached by a staircase from the Archbishop’s Palace courtyard. The site is therefore difficult to access for people with reduced mobility; routes to the booked rooms must be checked with the team. Les Lices public car park is nearby. The tourist listing states that pets are not admitted. Public hours vary by season; setup, guest arrival and departure times are governed by the agreement. To discuss a project, contact the Heritage and Culture Directorate on +33 4 90 49 38 32 or the heritage service at patrimoine@ville-arles.fr.
Photograph credit
Photograph of the courtyard, galleries and bell tower at Saint-Trophime Cloister in Arles, taken on 1 April 2022 — Rolf Kranz / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Converted to WebP.
Venue highlights
The venue in detail
Useful information is immediately visible so you can compare without opening several menus.
Events
- Exhibition and opening reception
Setting and surroundings
- City centre
- Historic site
Available spaces
- Indoor room
- Outdoor reception space
Access and facilities
- Accessibility of the spacesSubject to conditions
- Accessible spaces and further detailsEnter through the Archbishop’s Palace gateway and courtyard on Place de la République, then use a staircase. The tourist office describes access as difficult for people with reduced mobility. Check the route to the booked rooms. Public parking at Les Lices is nearby; pets are not admitted.
- Pets allowedNo
- Other spaces and facilitiesCloister with an inner courtyard and covered galleries; three rooms are separately listed in the municipal schedule. The 2025 exhibition agreement documents a 153-square-metre ground-floor room and a 157-square-metre first-floor room. These are room areas, not guest capacities; the hire area and layout require approval.
Reception formats
- Reception
Catering and suppliers
- Venue hire without catering availableYes
Event schedule
- Schedule detailsUsual public opening: 9 a.m.–6 p.m. in March, April and October; 9 a.m.–7 p.m. from May to September; 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. from November to February, with winter last admission at 4 p.m. Exceptional closures include 1 January, 1 May, 1 November and 25 December, according to the calendar. These are visiting hours; event, setup and removal times must be specified in the agreement.
Exclusive hire and permissions
- Exclusive use of the spacesSubject to conditions
- Spaces and conditions for exclusive hireThe cloister and its rooms require temporary occupancy authorisation according to the event’s purpose, availability and conditions specific to the monument. Private events closed to the public are assessed individually with their own decision and price. The agreement defines the authorised area.
Experience and introduction
- Venue introduction and highlightsAt the heart of the former episcopal quarter, Romanesque and Gothic galleries surround a courtyard with carved capitals and historic rooms. Part of the UNESCO-listed “Arles, Roman and Romanesque Monuments” property since 1981. Rooms are actively used for exhibitions, including a documented municipal agreement in 2025.
Prices and inclusions
The base price, included services and possible extras are clearly separated.
Venue hire only
Included in the price
The contents of the price have not yet been detailed.
Options and extras
No extras have yet been specified.
Useful conditions
- Adjustable quotation
Pricing details
- Amounts and conditions of other additional charges
- Private hire: individually agreed price. Under the public-event schedule effective 1 January 2024, reference valuations per 24 hours are €3,500 for the cloister from April to October and €2,100 from November to March; €450 for each of the three rooms. Lost admission revenue is valued at €120 per closure hour in high season and €60 in low season. Fees depend on the organiser’s status and any event ticket revenue; these figures are not private reception packages. Basic valuations include utilities; equipment and additional services cost extra. Separate public visit rates for 2026–2027: €6 full price, €5 reduced, free under 18. Confirm event conditions.
Booking and payment
- Payment deadlines and booking conditions
- All hire requires prior City approval and an occupancy agreement. The scheme described covers occupation for less than six months per year. The organiser’s status, whether the event is open to the public and any ticket sales determine the calculation method. Terms granted in a festival agreement do not automatically apply to a new application.
Special offer
- Offer type
- Complimentary benefit
- Offer description
- For events open to the public that fall within the municipal schedule, the fee calculation applies a 0% coefficient to Arles-based associations and charitable associations. This association benefit does not determine the price of a private reception.
- Offer conditions
- Benefit subject to event approval and the occupancy agreement. An Arles-based association must have its registered office in Arles. Charitable associations based elsewhere receive the same treatment. Schedule effective 1 January 2024; confirm applicable conditions. Private events closed to the public require a separate pricing decision.