Arles, France

Starry Night Over the Rhone in Arles, France

The van Gogh Trail

Near the Van Gogh Cafe

From Avignon, France we travelled by train through Provence to Arles, the town where Vincent Van Gogh painted some of his most beloved works. We began our holiday to Europe several weeks before in Amsterdam where the inspiring Van Gogh Museum led us to Arles to learn more about Vincent, his life and his art. The painter moved to Arles in 1888 and stayed for about 14 months. He left Arles in May 1889 and died in late July 1890.Van Gogh was 37 years old when he died. He sold only one painting in his difficult life. 

In Arles, we strolled the Van Gogh Trail, where we stood at some of the very spots where Vincent Van Gogh painted.  We looked over the Grand Rhone River where he painted "Starry Night Over the Rhone". We stopped to eat in the square believed to be the place where Van Gogh painted “Café Terrace at Night”. It was a warm, sunny day in Arles in late April and like much of France, there was an air of celebration here.

Equestrians in Arles

Arles, in and of itself, is charming, with other interesting sights. We sought out the exceptional Roman Amphitheatre, Les Arenes, which was built almost 2,000 years ago by the Romans, and is still used today for events, such as bullfighting. In the old courtyard near the Eglise St- Trophime, a 12 century church, we were surprised by enthusiastic equestrians.


After a few hours of enjoyable traipsing around Arles we returned to the train station to discover we had an hour or so wait for the train back to Avignon. We readily found an outdoor café, where we sipped white wine, watched the pleasant bustle around us and chatted about wonderful Arles.


Arles, in beautiful southern France, a place to return to.

Arles - view from the Amphitheatre