City (pop., 1999: 50,453), southeastern France.
Occupied and built up by the Romans in the 1st century BC, Arles became, through commerce, a leading city of the Burgundy , known also as the kingdom of Arles. Portions of the Roman wall around the old town remain, and a Roman arena of the 1st century BC is still used for bullfights and plays. The city was home to Vincent van {{link=Gogh, Vincent Willem van">Gogh during one of his most productive periods. Arles is still a river port, but its economy is based largely on tourism and agriculture.