The harsh, slanted, spring light of Arles is noticeable in a place like the Cloisters at Saint-Trophime. While the interior walkways are cool and in deep shadow, the courtyard takes in the light and heat of the day. The light streams through the columns making it a high contrast environment, a perfect one for thought and contemplation on the abstract spiritual concepts of light and dark.

The Cloister’s galleries are both 12th century Romanesque and 14th century Gothic. The two Romanesque galleries have the barrel vaulted ceiling, while the two Gothic ones have cross-ribbed. Paired pillars line all four sides while thick columns add to the support of the ceiling in the center of each gallery. The capitals of the columns are decorated with sculptures of biblical scenes while the pillars have figures of apostles and saints.

The Cloisters were built for the use of the Canons, those priests who attended the bishop and managed the church property. Under a reform instituted by Pope Gregory, the Canons were required to live like monks, with a common dormitory, refectory and cloister within the cathedral enclosure, separated by a wall from the city.

The refectory, or dining hall, was built first, next to the church, along with a chapter house, or meeting room, for the canons. The dormitory for the canons, a large vaulted room on the east side of the cloister, was built next. Work on the cloister began with the northern gallery, then the eastern gallery, which were finished around 1210-1220. — the Saint-Trophime Wikipedia page

Place de la République, Arles, Provence, France
Hours: Church daily 8:30am – 6:30pm; cloisters daily 9am – 12:30pm and 2pm – 7pm. Hours are not set in stone.
Admission: Free admission to church; cloister 3.05€ adults, 2.30€ students and ages 12 – 18, free for ages 11 and under

For more information on Saint-Trophime, the Cloisters, and the scenes depicted in the sculptures within and around the Cloisters, check out the Saint-Trophime Wikipedia page.

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