Van Gogh French Riviera

Howie & Shelley 25th Anniversary Celebration

July 10-22 | Itinerary

Hot | Sunny | Dry

High: 88° | Low: 62°

A large medieval castle on a hilltop surrounded by lush greenery and vineyards, with mountains in the background and a clear blue sky.
Bright hotel room with a large bed, red-striped curtains, a small balcony door, a wall-mounted TV, a patterned wooden dresser, a striped armchair, and sunlight streaming through the windows.
Elegant restaurant with wooden beams on the ceiling, chandeliers, arched windows, and decorated walls. The room has tables with cream tablecloths, red upholstered chairs, and is set for dining.
A historic stone castle with towers and battlements, surrounded by greenery, under a partly cloudy sky.
An outdoor dining table set for four on a terrace overlooking a cityscape at sunset, with an ancient castle in the background.

Carcassonne
Hôtel de la Cité

DAY 1 - 2

Be transported back in time in this UNESCO World Heritage medieval city that is the most complete walled city in the world. Relax in grand rooms located inside the main castle offering private terraces and stunning views. Get lost exploring winding alleyways and local markets of the city center.

Relax on the beach in the old resort town of Saints-Maries-de-Mer. Take a horseback ride through the fields, marshes and beaches of Camargue National Park, spotting bulls and flamingos along the trail. Van Gogh found inspiration in this seaside haven, producing a number of paintings while visiting.

St-Maries-de-Mer
Casa Marina

DAY 3 - 4

Baux-de-Provence
Mas de l'Oulivie

DAY 5 - 10

In the heart of Provence, nestled near the ancient hilltop town of Baux-de-Provence, this converted farm stay provides the quintessential backdrop for exploring the region. From the grand Papal Avignon, to Roman Arles, Saint-Remy-de-Provence, to Chateau vineyards, this is the heart of all Provence has on offer. It’s also the heart of Van Gogh’s Provence, where he was the most inspired and most prolific during his short life.

Sunset view of a historic stone bridge over a river, with a medieval castle and trees in the background.
Ancient stone aqueduct spanning a river with trees on both sides and a sky with warm hues at sunset.
A riverside walkway with green trees lining the path, old stone buildings, and a stone embankment along the water. Black lampposts are evenly spaced along the walkway.
People sitting and standing outside near the Colosseum in Rome, Italy, with shops and buildings around, under a partly cloudy sky.
Aerial view of a large estate with a mansion, surrounded by lush trees and expansive vineyards.
View of historic stone buildings and ruins atop a hill with greenery and trees in a European town, under a partly cloudy sky.
Swimming pool with lounge chairs and umbrellas in a courtyard, surrounded by greenery and a house with cypress trees and mountains in the background.
Outdoor patio with white tables and chairs, vine-covered posts and red flowering bush, building with closed shutters in the background.

Van Gogh Guide
to Provence Sites and Artworks

Van Gogh Route Website

Van Gogh in St-Maries-de-Mer

  • A colorful painting of a village with houses, a large church or castle in the background, and rows of green, purple, and yellow crops in the foreground under a blue sky.

    View of Saints-Maries-de-Mer

  • A colorful painting of a street scene with rooftops, trees, and a yellow sky in the background.

    Town of Saints-Maries-de-Mer

  • Black and white sketch of houses with sloped roofs and a pathway surrounded by trees and bushes.

    Sketch

  • Colorful boats docked on the sandy shore by the sea, with sailboats sailing in the background under cloudy skies.

    Boats on the Shore

  • Painting of a rural scene with two thatched-roof cottages and lush green plants, under a dark blue sky.

    Cottages in Saints-Maries

  • A painting of the ocean with three sailboats on the water and waves in the foreground, under a partly cloudy sky.

    View of the Ships

  • Oil painting of sailboats on the water with waves and a cloudy sky, in an impressionistic style.

    The Sea at Saints-Maries

Van Gogh’s Arles

  • An Impressionist painting of a tree-lined avenue with people walking, some carrying umbrellas, and fallen leaves on the ground.

    Alyscamps

  • Painting of colorful buildings on a street scene under a dark blue sky, with some people walking and horse-drawn carriages.

    The Yellow House

  • A crowded outdoor scene at night with many people gathered near a stage or carnival ride, painted in an impressionist style with vibrant colors and dynamic brushstrokes.

    Arles Arena

  • Night scene of a city street with a brightly lit outdoor cafe on the left, with people sitting at tables. The street has cobblestones, and buildings with lit windows line the right side. The sky is dark blue with stars.

    Cafe Arles

  • Interior of a bar or café with a pool table in the center, surrounded by tables and chairs occupied by people, styled in vibrant, swirling brushstrokes like Vincent van Gogh.

    Night Cafe

  • A colorful painting of a bedroom with a blue wall, green window, and orange furniture. The room has a bed with yellow bedding, a small wooden table with pitchers and bottles, a yellow chair, and various framed pictures on the wall.

    Room

  • A painted portrait of a man with a beard, wearing a suit, with swirling blue and green background.

    Self Portrait

  • A starry night over a cityscape with reflections of lights on a river. Two people walk along the riverbank.

    Starry Night Over the Rhone

  • A painting of a starry night sky over a village, with swirling clouds, bright stars, and a prominent cypress tree in the foreground.

    Starry Night Arles

  • Colorful painting of a bridge over a river with people washing clothes on the riverbank and a boat nearby, with trees in the background.

    Langlois Bridge

  • A painting of a wheat field with three farmers harvesting, set against a distant village under a yellow sky.

    Arles view from the Wheatfields

  • Oil painting of a rural landscape with a large tree on the left, a yellow house in the middle, a dirt road, and a partly cloudy sky.

    Farmhouse on an Avenue in Arles

  • A painting of a park scene with people walking and sitting on benches under lush green trees, with a pathway and fencing along the sides.

    Entrance to the Public Gardens

  • A painting of a young boy walking through a field of cabbage at sunset, with a bright yellow sun in the sky and a wheat field in the background.

    Wheatfield

  • A portrait of a woman wearing a blue hat smoking a pipe, with green eyes and reddish-blonde hair, dressed in a green coat against an orange and red background.

    Ear

  • A colorful painting of a park with trees, a small pond, and flower beds, with a yellow bridge and a miniature train passing underneath.

    Hospital in Arles

  • Painted scene of a colorful multi-level building with people walking and socializing, decorated with potted plants and flowers.

    Hospital in Arles

  • Interior of a busy hospital ward with green curtains creating individual stalls, doctors and nurses attending to patients, and visitors walking around, painted in an expressive, colorful style.

    Hospital in Arles

  • A painted portrait of a man with dark hair and a goatee, wearing a blue jacket, against a green and yellow swirl-patterned background.

    Doctor Ray

Van Gogh at Saint Paul’s

  • A painting of a large gnarled tree in front of a yellow building with arched windows and a balcony, with a man in formal attire standing on a dirt path.

    Saint Paul's

  • Saint Paul's

    Saint Paul's

  • Saint Paul's

    Saint Paul's

  • Colorful interior hallway with large arched doorway leading outside, featuring wooden shutters and a view of greenery and vehicles outside, painted in bright yellow and green hues.

    Entrance Hall

  • A painting of a garden scene with purple and white irises, green leaves, and a soil path.

    Irises

  • An oil painting of a backyard with a large twisted tree, a stone bench, and a fountain in the background. Fallen leaves cover the ground, and there are green plants near the base of the tree.

    Garden

  • A forest with a dirt path and tall trees with autumn-colored leaves, and a person walking through the woods.

    Garden

  • A colorful impressionist painting of a garden pathway lined with lush trees and blooming bushes, with a yellow building partially visible on the left and a bench along the path.

    Garden

  • Black and white sketch of a fountain with a statue at the center, surrounded by large, twisted trees and a park setting.

    Fountain in the Garden

  • An impressionist painting of a village with a church, trees, and a wheat field in the foreground, painted in vibrant colors.

    View of the Church of Saint-Paul de Mausole

  • A landscape painting of lavender fields with a mountain range in the background and a yellow sun in the sky, executed with thick brushstrokes and vibrant colors.

    View from My Room

  • Impressionist painting of a lavender field at sunset with mountains and a yellow sun in the background.

    View from My Room

  • Impressionist painting of a vast green field with rows of crops, a stone wall, distant houses, trees, mountains, and a setting sun in the sky.

    View from My Room

Van Gogh’s Saint Remy

  • A vibrant painting of large, twisted trees lining a street with yellow buildings, green shutters, and laundry hanging outside. People are walking, and workers are building a sidewalk with bricks and stones.

    Boulevard Mirabou

  • A rural landscape painting featuring a man walking through tall grass, stone wall, and a gate leading to a farm with haystacks and yellow buildings under a sky with white clouds.

    Farm

  • A landscape featuring a field of yellow wheat, tall cypress trees, a few scattered bushes, and a backdrop of mountains under a swirling blue sky with clouds, painted in an expressive, swirling style.

    Field

  • A colorful, impressionistic painting of a countryside landscape with fields, trees, and houses on a hill under a blue sky.

    Irises

  • A landscape of an orchard with pruned trees, mountains in the background, and a bright yellow sun in the sky, painted in an impressionist style.

    Olive Trees

  • Painting of people harvesting olives from trees in an orchard.

    In the Olive Groves

  • A colorful landscape painting of a countryside scene with mountains in the background, trees, and a grassy field in the foreground.

    A Meadow

  • A painting of a wheat field with several bundles of harvested wheat, a farmer, and some small buildings in the background, under a cloudy sky.

    Harvest

  • A landscape painting of a field with wheat and haystacks, mountains in the background, and a bright yellow sky.

    Wheatfield

  • A colorful landscape painting of a mountain scene with swirling clouds and green foliage.

    The Mountains

  • Oil painting of a rural landscape with rolling green hills, a field of yellow crops in the foreground, small houses on the hills, and dramatic cloudy sky in the background.

    Mountains and Field

  • A colorful landscape painting of mountains, rolling hills, and rural houses in a vibrant, expressive style.

    Les Alpilles

  • A painting depicting Jesus Christ carrying the cross, with a woman in blue reaching out to him, set against a colorful sky background.

    Pieta After Delacroix