The Porcelet family

This utterly charming little square is the perfect place to unwind. Grab a coffee in one of the terraces and watch life unfold. Did you happen to notice the peculiar name of the street that brought us here? It’s Rue des Porcelets, aka the Piglets Street. Quite an unusual one, that is. It’s a nod to the Porcelets, one of Arles’ most ancient families. If you visit The Alyscamps, Arles’ necropolis, you’ll find their 15th-century funerary chapel. Legend has it that this powerful family owed its name to a curse. The story goes that a beggar was bumped into by a lady on the street. Infuriated as she was, the beggar cast a spell on her, telling her that she would have as many children as a nearby sow had piglets! Truth or tall tale? Either way, the family’s emblem proudly sports three little piglets.