The Christmas nativity scene of the Confrérie des Gardians in Saint-Julien church, Arles

For Christmas 2018, the Camargue nativity scene of the Confrérie des Gardians came back to life in Saint-Julien church, in the historic centre of Arles. Santon maker Étienne Tournon created it in 1954 for the brotherhood. It was displayed in Notre-Dame-la-Major church until 1977, when the church closed for a lengthy restoration. Packed away in boxes, it was forgotten until Philippe Féret rediscovered it in 1992 at Notre-Dame-la-Major church and offered to restore it. Solange Cabillic restored the clothes, while santon maker Henri Vezolle recreated the missing Three Kings. It was exhibited in 2012 for the Confrérie des Gardians' 500th anniversary, then finally in Saint-Julien church from 2018.

Allied bombing badly damaged Saint-Julien church in 1944, piercing the nave and bringing down the bell tower. The council intended to clear the site for housing, but the parish priest, Canon Léon Boulat, used persuasion and persistence to convince the authorities to restore this beautiful church, whose choir had survived the bombs intact.

Photographs of the Confrérie des Gardians' Christmas nativity scene (2018): slideshow

Getting to Arles

GPS coordinates: N 43°40'36'' – E 4°37'39''