Van Gogh in Provence

Vincent Van Gogh spent a couple of years (1888 - 1890) living in Provence and was treated for 53 weeks at the St. Paul Monastery and Hospital in St. Rémy de Provence.  The city of Arles and the town of St. Rémy have erected panels of many of the scenes he painted in situ.  We did a walking tour in both places to look at the scenes that Van Gogh painted, and we visited the Monastery and Psychiatric Hospital in St. Rémy. This psychiatric facility uses art therapy as part of its treatment program. We thought the setting alone would have a curative effect.

Cafe at Night in Arles

Trinquetaille Bridge in Arles

Espace Van Gogh in Arles

Olive grove at St. Paul Hospital

St Paul Hospital lavender garden

Irises at St. Paul Hospital

In the Towns

Cities in Provence are not car-friendly, mainly due to lack of parking space, and since we had a car we mainly toured the countryside and the smaller cities.  We enjoyed Arles and Nimes on day trips, and we spent one night in Orange.  Those three cities have notable Roman ruins. The other places we stayed at were in small villages.

Our B&B in Paradou, about half an hour from Arles. This lavender colour is the most common one used for painting shutters.  Maybe there is a tax break for using this colour...?

Inside the Roman Arena in Arles

St. Trophime Cloisters in Arles

Cloisters in Espace Van Gogh in Arles

Enjoying some Gelato in Arles

Appetiser of Eggplant and Chèvre at a restaurant specializing in Provencal dishes

Evanna with the village of Les Baux in the background

Kathy with the castle ruins of Les Baux in the background

Castle ruins at Les Baux at night

The Roman Arena in Nimes

The Roman Theatre in Orange, the only Roman Theatre in Europe with its acoustic wall still standing 

At a riverside cafe in Nyons with the Roman bridge in the background. We needed a drink after stomping around the large and lively market.