Van Gogh in Provence — 200 paintings in 14 months

Your journey begins in Arles, at the Café Van Gogh in Place du Forum. It was here, in 1888, that Vincent van Gogh transformed his palette, adopting the vibrant colors of the South to paint 'The Night Café'. This spot, chosen for its Provençal tranquility before industrialization, marked the beginning of an extraordinarily prolific period, during which Van Gogh created over 300 works. By following his footsteps in the city of Arles, you grasp the intensity of this key year, a major turning point in his post-impressionist style, where each brushstroke captured the unique light of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region.

Continue to the Espace Van Gogh, the former Arles hospital where the artist was treated after his ear crisis in December 1888. It was from here, in 1889, that he painted 'The Garden of the Asylum', demonstrating his ability to create despite his turmoil. The courtyard, now transformed into a cultural space with reproductions of his works, illustrates Van Gogh's difficult transition to Saint-Rémy, while highlighting the persistence of his genius. This location in Arles is a poignant reminder of the artist's resilience in the face of adversity, before his departure for the asylum.

Your Arlesian route then leads you to the Alyscamps, these Roman funerary avenues lined with cypress trees. In 1888, Van Gogh found inspiration here for his 'Les Alyscamps' series, capturing the autumnal hues of the site. This historical monument, a muse for its Provençal landscapes, fueled the production of over 300 canvases during his stay in Arles. The timeless beauty of the Alyscamps, one of the many Roman vestiges in the city of Arles, offers a perspective on Provence's appeal to artists, well beyond Van Gogh's time.

Leaving Arles, you reach the reconstructed Pont de Langlois, affectionately known as 'Pont Van Gogh'. In 1888, the artist painted several versions of it, capturing the Midi light and the reflections of the Arles canal with expressive brushstrokes. This drawbridge, now reconstructed as a tourist tribute, is a symbol of his obsession with the light and landscapes of Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur. It's an immersion into the simplicity and strength of his compositions, before his voluntary commitment to Saint-Paul-de-Mausole.

Your exploration continues in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, at the 12th-century monastery of Saint-Paul-de-Mausole. Van Gogh voluntarily arrived there on May 8, 1889. During his year-long stay, he produced 150 paintings and 100 drawings, including 'The Starry Night' from his room and 'Irises' in the garden. The surrounding wheat fields, along the Route des Antiques, inspired 'Wheat Field with Cypresses' and 'Wheat Field with a Reaper', where the swirling skies and undulating fields embody his inner turmoil. The one-hour walking path, dotted with 19 reproductions, allows you to feel the influence of this Alpilles site on his work, despite the crises that marked this productive period. The Antiques de Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, with the Glanum mausoleum and the triumphal arch, recall the millennia-old history of this region, a constant backdrop for the artist. This roadtrip offers you an intimate understanding of the man and his work, revealing how Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur shaped one of the world's greatest painters.