Published on May 21, 2024
By Jay Pritchard, Travel Writer
When you join Country Walkers on our France: Provence & St. Rémy Self-Guided Tour, you’ll experience the subtle light of Provence that was the inspiration behind many French Post-Impressionist painters—and you might even come away with a spark of inspiration of your own.
The clear skies, consistent sunshine, and vivid natural landscape of Provence have attracted artists for centuries. Among the masters of the French Post-Impressionist movement, Van Gogh, Gauguin, and Cézanne did not simply chronicle the beautiful landscapes here, they translated them into their own language of color, light, and form—and in doing so, created some of the most renowned works of art ever made. When you join Country Walkers on our France: Provence & St. Rémy Self-Guided Tour, you’ll experience the subtle light of Provence that was the inspiration behind many French Post-Impressionist painters—and you might even come away with a spark of inspiration of your own.
The Dutch master Vincent Van Gogh arrived in Provence in 1888 at 35-years-old, and during a 15 month stay created over 200 paintings, many of which are the most celebrated of his canon. He so enjoyed Provence that he envisioned the construction of a monastic artist's colony here, where up-and-coming artists could paint unfettered—freed from the increasing financial influences he believed had sullied the work of his teacher and friend Paul Gauguin. As you explore the landscape on your France: Provence & St. Rémy Self-Guided Tour, your path takes you along the celebrated Van Gogh Trail, which circles through towns and out into the countryside, up into the mountains, and back again. Signboards throughout the walk direct viewers to the precise viewpoints of the artist's most famous canvases—and document the details of Van Gogh's often tumultuous and chaotic life. Take your discoveries a step further and visit the house where Van Gogh lived. The great master’s most renowned canvas from the Provence region is The Starry Night (1899) which reflects his aim to paint the view from the window of his room.
Paris native Paul Gauguin first traveled to Provence in the fall of 1888 at the urging of Van Gogh's brother Theo, who hoped the accompaniment of a friend and colleague would ease Vincent's increasingly erratic behavior. Theo wrote to his brother Vincent in 1888: “So, Gauguin’s coming; that will make a big change in your life. I hope that your efforts will succeed in making your house a place where artists will feel at home.” Of Gauguin’s many canvases illustrating the region, fans of Impressionism may be familiar with Landscape Near Arles (1888). The painting’s simplified forms and skilled brushwork expertly capture the serene beauty of rural life in the countryside around Arles. As you walk through the pastoral landscape, keep your eyes peeled for haystacks and sheeves of wheat—still stacked in the iconic shapes that so inspired the Post-Impressionist artists.
Paul Cézanne, who was born in neighboring Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur, created much of his celebrated early work in the Provence region. As you stroll through the windswept Alpilles toward the cobblestoned medieval village of Les Baux-de-Provence, you’ll experience the natural landscape, distant cliffs, and historic architecture reminiscent of Cézanne’s celebrated painting “House in Provence” (1885). Pierre-Auguste Renoir, a celebrated Impressionist painter, visited Cézanne in Arles to create his own canvases of the region while offering encouragement on Cézanne's austere style—considered by art historians to have had a strong influence on Cubism.
The region’s historic significance in the art world is just one of the reasons to visit this serene and beautiful part of Europe. Contemporary Provence and St. Rémy remain as bustling and fragrant as ever—with fields of vibrant wildflowers and outdoor farmer’s markets serving up a bouquet of aromatic herbs, plump olives, and succulent fruits and vegetables. The aroma of freshly cut flowers, crusty baguettes, and grilled meats fill the air as walkers mingle with village locals. Goods on hand range from locally grown olives, decanters of wine from nearby vineyards, artisan jewelry and soaps, regionally made candy, and dried herbs and spices. Relax and unwind in quaint bed and breakfasts in villages such as St. Remy, Gordes, and Roussillon—each among the most quaint and picturesque in all of France. Stroll past functioning 12th-century abbeys, where resident monks tend to acres of lavender. Walk past the red cliffs of Roussillon, used for centuries to create richly colored clay for sculptors and pottery makers across France. Along the way, you’ll experience the perfect balance of flexibility and support on this self-guided Provence walking adventure. In addition to the support of your friendly local Country Walkers local rep, your detailed route notes and audio-guided navigation (through the Ride with GPS smartphone app) ensure you’ll have every opportunity to discover the secret hidden gems and spectacular scenery that inspired a generation of world-class French artists.
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