I will be in Provence in October and planning a day trip to Arles. I specifically want to see Van Gogh's home, the asylum where he was treated after he cut off his ear, walk along the Avenue Vincent Van Gogh etc... I thought I had read about a museum, but when I looked online I can't seem to find one with his art in Provence (only in the Netherlands).
Has anyone been to a Van Gogh Art Museum in Arles or St. Remy?
The asylum, St. Paul's is in St. Remy de Provence, not Arles.
Arles has signs around town where Vincent set up his easel, and you can compare a picture of his painting from that spot on the sign to what it looks like today.
The asylum just south of Saint-Remy (I walked along the road - it’s not far) has a room set up like the one depicted in one of his most famous paintings. Nobody is certain exactly which room he stayed in while recovering. The garden out behind the building is pleasant, and Vincent spent time there, too.
Not where you’re going, but the National Gallery in London (a huge art museum) is going to be having a huge Van Gogh special exhibition, starting in two weeks. I imagine that many, many of Vincent’s paintings will have been gathered from museums around the world for that special show. I hope to catch that before it ends in mid-January 2025.
We were in Arles with a RS tour in 2018. On a walking tour we saw many of the spots where Van Gogh painted and there were placards around town at the different spots. We were told at that time that Arles did not have any of his paintings. I believe the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam contains the bulk of his art but there are Van Gogh paintings in many museums just not in Arles unless on loan. I suggest you look for a City guide for a walking tour of Arles. We’ve found guides, in general to be priceless for the info they can give you about their town.
Heather, I remember your post from about 3 months ago, that you were driving from Amboise to Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Is that still on your agenda? You should still be able to visit the asylum where Vincent was treated, besides your Arles visit. It’s called Saint-Paul de Mausole, on a street off of Avenue Vincent Van Gogh.
Thank you to all for the helpful feedback.
@Cyn- Yes, good memory! My husband and I are staying a couple nights in Amboise and then driving to St. Remy which will be our base in Provence for 5 days. I’m planning out those days right now and put Arles, Les Baux ams Glanum on the same day. I’ve heard there’s good Sunday markets in Aix so that’s on the agenda for another day. Also planned to spend a day in Avignon (& surrounding area) and a different day in Isle Sur La Sorgue.
When I posted that itinerary question a few months ago, we were thinking of stopping along the way overnight to break up the drive from Amboise. One route goes right through Lyon and we could stay overnight there, but I think we will
just stop there for a meal and to walk around but not stay.
The asylum in Arles you are probably thinking about us the hospital in Arles which is the subject of a painting. https://images.app.goo.gl/Z591BMpGSATTEkg16
That building is still there. He stayed there for a couple of weeks before being transferred to the asylum in St Remy.
Thank you, @Allen. Appreciate the link to the painting as well. I love Van Gogh!
We visited Arles a few years ago and our guide showed us the place his home once existed. However, it was torn down. Our guide showed us his painting that included the home and you can see what the area looked like back when the home existed.
Heather,
Just one thought. You said you are seeing, Glanum, Les Beaux, and Arles on the same day? If so, I fear you will be cheating yourself by not having enough time in some places. Glanum, just outside St. Remy, doesn't absorb a lot of time, but to see Les Beaux takes a couple of hours to explore (walking around the site, which is not small), aside from getting there and parking. Arles deserves a full day to see the Roman sites, to stroll the historic center, to visit a market, to absorb the atmosphere. Montmajour Abbey is worth visiting there also. Perhaps you could split this into two days? How about seeing Glanum and Les Beaux on one day, and Arles the next? Of course, you may be able to move more quickly and spryly than I can! (Haha!)
Whatever you decide, have a wonderful trip!
Has anyone been to a Van Gogh Art Museum in Arles or St. Remy?
This is one of the tradegies of Impressionism. The artists spread out into the small towns in the country side and along the coast to paint. You can visit where they painted, but the art they created is not there.
To stretch Les Baux time and fit it into a day, we got there in the very late afternoon/early evening, before it got closed for the night. We had time to wander a bit, then had a sunset picnic dinner with a view, then left on our own time, without crowds, well after to leave at the hill town’s regular closing time.
Cyn, That sounds like a great idea, to see Les Beaux later in the day....Glanum in the morning and a relaxing drive to Les Beaux after lunch.
"This is one of the tradegies of Impressionism."
@jkh - Yes, I agree. I will have to visit Amsterdam next to see the huge collection of Van Gogh's art that is there.
@Cyn and @Judy - Thank you for your suggestions. Having not been there before I'm planning based on RS guidebooks as well as online travel bloggers. I am tweaking our plans now to explore Glanum and Les Baux on one day and see Arles on a different day. We have 5 full days to explore Provence. I'm getting excited....only 4 weeks out!
Amusez-vous bien!
