The Jules César is a five-star hotel at 9 Boulevard des Lices in Arles, set in a former seventeenth-century Carmelite convent that was redesigned by Christian Lacroix. It has 52 rooms, including 11 suites, and a garden with a seasonal heated outdoor pool. The spa covers about 250 square metres with a sauna, hammam, jacuzzi and treatment rooms, and there is a fitness room. The gourmet restaurant Lou Marquès and the Le Jules bar make it self-contained. The amphitheatre is about a five-minute walk, and the Roman and Van Gogh sites are all within the old town. It is the best address in Arles for a refined stay.
Location and getting around
The Boulevard des Lices is the broad tree-lined avenue on the edge of the old town, and the hotel sits on it, within a short walk of the Arènes and the lanes around the Place du Forum. The railway station is a short taxi ride.
Everything in the Roman and Van Gogh circuit is walkable. Valet parking is offered for a daily fee, and public indoor parking is nearby, which helps if you are driving to Les Baux or the Camargue. The boulevard hosts a large market on Saturday mornings, so expect activity outside.
Rooms and facilities
Rooms mix historic details with a colourful contemporary look, and the suites are the choice for extra space. The garden is the heart of the hotel, with the pool open seasonally, so do not count on swimming in November. The spa, with its Cinq Mondes treatments, is the winter attraction and is charged separately. Breakfast is a buffet and is typically charged as an extra, so check your rate. The restaurant and bar are on site, and meeting rooms mean the hotel can host groups.
Who it suits
Couples and design-minded travellers who want a hotel with character in the centre of Arles, and anyone who wants a spa on a cold month. It is a good base for the amphitheatre, the Fondation Vincent van Gogh and day trips by car. In November the hotel is quiet and rates are lower than in summer. Ask about quiet rooms away from the boulevard on market day, and about spa packages. Families are welcome but the atmosphere is adult and refined.
Why stay here
- ✓52 rooms and 11 suites
- ✓Former Carmelite convent
- ✓Spa with sauna and hammam
- ✓Seasonal garden pool
- ✓Gourmet restaurant
- ✓Bar
- ✓Fitness room
- ✓Valet parking
Good questions
How far is the hotel from the Roman amphitheatre?+
About a five-minute walk. The Place du Forum and the Van Gogh sites are also within the old town.
Is the pool open in November?+
The outdoor pool is seasonal and is not likely to be open in winter. The spa with sauna, hammam and jacuzzi is the cold-weather alternative.
Is there parking?+
Valet parking is offered for a daily fee, and public indoor parking is nearby for an additional charge. Ask the hotel when you book.
