Arles France 🇫🇷 A Wonderful Day Trip For Any Art Lover
No stop in Provence is complete for any art lover without a stop in Arles. To say Annette and I were looking forward to visiting this picturesque town just south of Avignon is not an exaggeration. We both were looking forward to walking through a town that so many artists lived and worked: Pablo Picasso, Paul Gauguin, Jacques Réattu, and of course, Vincent van Gogh.
Our day started with a short train ride from Avignon to Arles, and we very much enjoyed the French countryside in Provence. It is no wonder so many people enjoy visiting this area of France. Even during winter, there is much beauty in the area. When we arrived, we enjoyed a chilly morning as we walked along the Rhône River into town and just enjoyed the architecture and natural beauty of the area.
We made a stop at the tourist office for a map and for information on where to find areas that Vincent painted. This was a must, and Annette was excited and quickly mapped out a route to see as much as possible. I enjoyed each stop, and seeing the excitement in Annette was wonderful. What a special experience for her to be where one of her favorite artists painted. I really enjoyed each stop but was very happy to see the café where Café Terrace at Night painted in 1888. I really enjoyed being there and imagining what it must have been like in 1888 when Vincent painted the scene.
After a wonderful lunch, we made our way to Les Alyscamps, a large Roman necropolis just a short walk outside of the old city center. This is a UNESCO World Heritage site and had to pay a small fee to enter, which was worth it. We just can’t get enough of Roman artifacts or ruins. 😉 A bonus was finding another scene that Vincent painted here.
We walked back to the train station admiring the beauty of this charming town and found one more spot where Vincent painted one of Annette’s favorite paintings, Starry Night Over the Rhône. It truly was a wonderful day.
What a blessing to be able to explore and take the time to appreciate where we are.
Unit next time…
