Arles : niches and saints
After Arles and Van Gogh, the visit of the city is carried on another way: it’s the district of La Roquette you are going to visit. Do not hesitate to get lost in the streets to discover the houses, the no-through streets and the niches decorating the houses corners.
They have been here since the XVth century sometimes. They are private property.
We have little information about them. Their owners would take them away when they moved out, also some may have been stolen.

The names of the streets in the city remind us of the main activity of the peoples of sailors. But we hesitate on the appellation “Roquette”: after “Roca”: stone, fortifications, or plant?
Occurred in the Middle Ages and for a long time the favourite place of sailors, the district of La Roquette has remained one of the most picturesque in the city.
Its urban pattern in the shape of a fishbone shows often high picturesque narrow houses between the quay of the river Rhône and the Boulevard Clémenceau. The house fronts rich of architectural decorations and the numerous niches at the corners attract the pedestrians’ sight and are pleasant for strolling. 
The place was also animated with numerous craftsmen and shoppers and inhabited by well-off families who left gorgeous private hostels.
After the decline of waterways transport in the XIXth century, the place knows an amazing rebirth today thanks to numerous restorations (La Roquette is part of the French National Trust) and the establishment of shops in the eastern part has given a new impulse to this place. Its population of 2,427 inhabitants, an inheritage of the past and present of the district, shows a heterogeneous nature: social classes, generations and different cultural origins mix together to give a feeling of a village. 
The people living there are very sociable and helpful, they will easily help you with any information. 
For further information we suggest the page on Patrimoine de la ville d’Arles.
To find this micro cache you will have to answer the following 12 questions in the WP  and then do the necessary operations. 
Step 01 :  N 43° 40.528 E 004° 37.202 
What’s wrong ? Louise de Marillac
- was a teacher ?, a2 = 3
- is looking up at the sky ?, a2 = 2
- would welcome the orphans ?, a2 = 5
Step 02 : N 43° 40.514 E 004° 37.222  
Saint Nicolas is represented here as :
- patron of sailors, y1 = 6
- protector of fires, y1 = 1
- protector of children ? y1 = 3

Step 03 : N 43° 40.513 E 004° 37.279  
Here we can see :
- Saint Joan of Arc ?, z2 = 4
- the Virgin Mary ?, z2 = 3
- Nothing at all ?, z2 = 7
Step 04 : N 43° 40.543 E 004° 37.301 
What’s wrong ? Saint Roch:
- has joined hands ?, c2 = 0
- has his dog on his left ?, c2 = 7
- the statue is totally new ?, c2 = 4
Step 05 :  N 43° 40.515 E 004° 37.355  
What’s wrong, Saint Roch
- is holding a bag ?, x1 = 16
- is holding the shepherds’ stick ?, x1 = 9
- is wearing a hat with a shell ?, x1 = 25
Step 06 : N 43° 40.517 E 004° 37.383
We don’t know the origin nor the meaning of this niche : how many characters are there ? 
- 2 ?, b1 = 8
- 1 ?, b1 = 6
- 0 ?, b1 = 4
Step 07 : N 43° 40.565 E 004° 37.337
What’s wrong ?
- on the left of the statue we can read « Marie », y2 = 3
- there is a Latin writing on the basis of the statue, y2 = 0
- this statue presents a symmetry Y2 = 6
Step 08 : N 43° 40.578 E 004° 37.363  
On the pedestal of the niche is written :
- Notre Dame de la Roquette ?, a1 = 1
- Notre Dame de la Consolation ?, a1 = 6
- Notre Dame de la Marine ?, a1 = 3
Step 09 : N 43° 40.601 E 004° 37.338
What’s right ?: Saint Martin is represented as :
- a bishop ?, x2 = 2
- a beggar ?, x2 = 8
- a Roman soldier ? x2 = 4

 Step 10 : N 43° 40.591 E 004° 37.315
What’s wrong ?, Saint Roch :
- is showing his wound ?, c1 = 2
- is wearing a bishop’s mitre ?, c1 = 1
- is holding a cross on his chest ? c1 = 3
Step 11 : N 43° 40.605 E 004° 37.254
What’s wrong ?
- the watcher is looking up to the north ?, z1 = 1
- the Virgin’s statue is higher than the watcher’s ?, z1 = 7
- The Virgin is holding Jesus in her arms ?, z1 = 5
Step 12 : N 43° 40.565 E 004° 37.207  	
What’s right ? The Virgin is holding:
- Jesus on her lap ?, b2 = 5
- an anchor and a light ?, b2 = 3
- a rosary in her joined hands ?, b2 = 7
The coordinates of the cache are the following ones: N43°40.abc E4°37.xyz
The 12 steps can be done in disorder, as you stroll along the place. 
a = (a1x 3)+(6 x a2)-25
b = b1- b2
c = c1x c2
x = √(x1) - √(x2)
y = y1+ y2
z = z1+ z2
There no pencil in the cache, remember to take yours
Be discreet to log, the place is crowded
Do not publish any photo of the cache or its surroundings, it will be suppressed.
Have a good geocaching and a pleasant walk!