Sunflowers, iris, olive trees in the mistral… all colorful scenes painted by Van Gogh during his stay in the little city of Saint Remy de Provence in the Alpilles, whose old center maintains all the charm of the Provence that the painter knew. 

We invite you this week to stroll in this charming city, to see it through the eyes of the famous painter

VINCENT VAN GOGH IN  SAINT-RÉMY-DE PROVENCE

It’s on May 8, 1889, that arrives at the small station of Saint-Rémy, coming from Arles, a tall, red-haired man with blue eyes who would contribute greatly to the fame of Saint-Rémy throughout the world. Vincent Van Gogh would stay only a little more than a year in this pretty Provencal city, until May 16, 1890. He would die two months later in Auvers-sur-Oise.

When he arrives in Saint-Rémy, he suffers from painful episodes which make people believe he is mad. He goes voluntarily to the Saint Paul de Mausole hospital and it is there, in his little room with a view of the garden, that he will know the most productive period of his life as a painter.

In one year he does more than 150 paintings. Among the best known: la Nuit Etoilée, les premiers pas, la Méridienne, le Jardin de l’Hospice Saint Paul, le champ de blé and the cypress, les iris …

IN  THE FOOTSTEPS OF VAN GOGH...

Part of Saint Paul de Mausole remains a hospital but a whole wing of the building as well as part of the garden has become the “Van Gogh Cultural and Touristic Center". It can be visited to find the places where the painter lived, and to discover the beautiful Roman cloister and a reconstitution of Vincent’s room.

One continues on foot by the “Promenade in Van Gogh’s Universe”, it is a route along which are 19 panels in enameled lava, each reproducing paintings by Vincent Van Gogh when he was staying in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence,

This walk links pleasantly, 45 minutes on foot, the site of Saint Paul de Mausole to the Musee Estrine, located in the old center of the town where the Van Gogh interpretation center is located.

SAINT-RÉMY-DE-PROVENCE,  LAND OF ARTISTIC INSPIRATION.

Vincent Van Gogh made famous the exceptional beauty of the Alpilles landscapes and the quality of a unique and almost surreal light.

Later, many more artists moved to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence or in the countryside and surrounding villages.

Among them, some became famous such as Yves Brayer, Auguste Chabaud, Mario Prassinos, Albert Gleizes, precursor of cubism, many works can be seen in the Musée Estrine. There is also a museum dedicated to Michel Jouenne.

Those visits reveal an inspiring and always beautiful Provence.

Did you know?

Approximately one hundred painters and artists meet several time a year, participating in the  Road of the Saint Rémy de Provence’s artists on the boulevards around the historic center.

If you wish to walk in the footsteps of Van Gogh in Provence, Plaisirs et Maisons de Provence suggests that you stay in one of its charming vacation rentals in the Alpilles , in Saint Rémy de Provence or in one of its vacation rentals in Provence.