This region is so rich with history, culture and scenery that it is no wonder artists have been drawn here (no pun intended, but it works). This brings me to my guided tour with Sarah Pernet and “Discover Provence.” This company provides custom tours, private or not, of local attractions with a touch of flair and attention to history with passion for this region. Emily, my new BFF from “Your Private Provence”, suggested that I contract them for tours if I wanted, as she was busy and they work together in accommodating clients to provide the best of their time in Provence.
This tour focused on Van Gogh’s later life in Arles and St. Remy with a stop in Les Baux. We covered quite a bit of territory in one day and I hope to return to explore further. Six of us started with introductions and conversations and before we knew it, we were walking through Arles, along the Rhone, with shared information about Van Gogh aided by easel-sized replica’s of artwork along the path.
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Arles is also rich in Roman history, becoming a stop between Italy and Spain. We walked among many of the ruins.
After a delicious lunch stop to recharge for the afternoon (should’ve taken a photo of the devine raspberry macaron dessert but that was an afterthought), we headed to Les Baux and the countryside with a tour of an olive farm where they produce olive oils. I shall make it a point to return, wanting to see the Carriere des Lumieres which focuses on Chagall at this time. I will be back!
Our final stop to St. Remy was at St. Paul Monastery and Hospital where Van Gogh had spent just over a year in treatment. He completed 143 paintings and 100 drawings. Easels with replicas are viewed around this still-functioning mental hospital. Here he painted “The Starry Night.” Treatment for mental disease was brutal by our standards. This facility is still being used today, but it focuses on art therapy as treatment for psychiatric disorders. A much more humane and respectful way!
It was a busy day of touring. I hope to use Discover Provence again in a couple weeks, post my French classes, for a trip to Cassis (and then, possibly more). I would like to get to know Sarah, as the opportunity wasn’t conducive, for conversation among hopeful friends.