In ancient times, in this region, a land of forest and marshes modelled by the floods of the Rhône, small islets emerged formed by alluvial soil. Only one of these islets was in reality a rock.The Salyens ( a mixture of Celts and Ligures ), the first to occupy this rock lost in the marshes, called it TARASCO*.

The Massilians set up a trading post there three centuries before Christ. Later, the Romans built in its place, a citadel to control passage on the Rhône.

About 48 BC, an event of historic importance took place in the town. Martha, one of Christ’s emissaries, who had landed in Provence with the “Saintes Maries de la Mer”, arrived in Tarascon and delivered the people from an amphibious monster which was terrorizing the area : the Tarasque. She then settled amidst the people of Tarascon. This Saint was particularly venerated and became the Patron Saint of Tarascon. The town prospered thanks to her importance in spite of its proximity to major towns like Arles and Avignon.