World-class art in Provence

The paintings by Chardin, Manet, Cezanne, Degas, Modigliani, Sisley, Van Gogh and Picasso that fill this delightful museum were collected by Paris fashion designer Jacques Doucet – the Yves Saint-Laurent of the early 20th century. They were later donated to the city of Avignon by his great-nephew and wife, who were both artists and collectors themselves.

This inspiring selection of art is housed in the Doucet family’s elegant Avignon townhouse, with one floor preserved exactly as it was during their lifetime. Be sure to track down Van Gogh’s Railway Carriages, the only Van Gogh painting that remains on permanent display in Provence.

Cezanne’s studio on Les Lauves hill was designed by the artist himself in 1902, although he only used it when it was too cold to paint outdoors (he died in 1906, after getting caught in the rain while painting his beloved Mont Sainte-Victoire). Over the decades it has been maintained as he left it – a must-see for any Cezanne fan, the one place in Aix where his presence is tangible.

If you continue another kilometre or so north from the studio, along Avenue Paul Cezanne, you’ll come to Les Lauves, the Terrain des Peintures viewpoint – where Cezanne often planted his easel to paint Mont Sainte-Victoire.

In an 18th-century mansion, this museum bases its exhibits on Van Gogh’s complaint that living artists were unfairly ignored. It has a fine permanent collection of 20th- and 21th-century works, along with a Van Gogh interpretation centre.

A must for any art lover, the Granet Museum has a fascinating archaeological collection (including a reconstructed Celtic ‘head cult’ temple from nearby Entremont) and a remarkable array of works by Rubens, Rembrandt and Ingres.

Its 10 Cezanne paintings include a portrait of Emile Zola, the artist’s boyhood friend in Aix. From the 20th century come works by Giacometti, Mondrian, Balthus and Morandi and the excellent Collection Planque, with paintings by Degas, Picasso, de Stael, Braque and Klee.

Two beautiful 18th-century mansions in Avignon host this contemporary collection. Established by Yvon Lambert, a renowned art collector, the collection features works by renowned artists such as Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, and Cy Twombly.

Papal Avignon was the centre of the European art for decades, and over 300 works of (mostly) Italian medieval and renaissance paintings and sculptures commissioned by the wealthy prelates of the church, including a Botticelli Madonna, are displayed in this 14th-century palace.

Museum housing masterpieces of French International Gothic art, including Enguerrand Quarton’s famous Coronation of the Virgin. It’s housed within a former cardinal’s palace, and named after the renowned cardinal who resided there in the 14th century. Exhibitions range from medieval sculptures and religious art to Renaissance paintings and decorative arts.

Set in the 15th-century Grand Priory of the Knights of Malta, this museum features tapestries on the Seven Wonders of the World (1614), Van Gogh’s famous letter to Gaugin, 57 drawings donated by Picasso, and much more.

Arles’ fine arts museum, housed in the former Grand Priory of the Knights of Malta, is dedicated to showcasing fine arts, with a particular emphasis on the works of Jacques Réattu, an 18th-century painter who once owned the building.

It houses an extensive collection of Réattu’s paintings, 57 drawings donated by Picasso, who had a personal connection to Arles, and a notable collection of modern art. Look out for Réattu’s must-see masterpiece Portrait of a Young Man, tapestries on the Seven Wonders of the World (1614) and Van Gogh’s famous letter to Gaugin.

Founded in 1970, this major International Festival of Photography takes place in Arles from July to September in the Espace Van Gogh – the 16th-century Hotel Dieu – the city hospital that treated Vincent after he cut off his ear.

This former monastery – a masterpiece of Provencal Romanesque – is famous for being the asylum where Vincent van Gogh stayed from May 1889 to May 1890. Van Gogh admitted himself here seeking treatment for his mental health issues. The serene environment and supportive care provided a refuge during a tumultuous period of his life. He stayed in a modest room with barred windows, which he painted in his iconic style. Despite his struggles, Van Gogh found inspiration in the surrounding landscapes and gardens.

During his year at St-Paul-de-Mausole, Van Gogh created almost 150 oil paintings and more than 100 drawings, from within and outside the facility’s walls. This incredible haul included some of his most famous works, notably ‘The Starry Night’, ‘Irises’, and numerous self-portraits. The peaceful setting, with its lush gardens and views of the Alpilles mountains, profoundly influenced his artwork, capturing the natural beauty and tranquillity he experienced there.

His room and reproductions of the paintings he made there are on display, along with temporary exhibitions.

As prime spots where Van Gogh lived and painted, the towns of Arles and Saint-Remy both regret not hanging on to any of Van Gogh’s original works while he was alive. To make up for it, each has set up a self-guided Van Gogh Walk, pinpointing the scenic spots where the master planted his easel.

When doing the walk in Arles, spare some time to see the Espace Van Gogh in the former hospital on Place du Dr Félix Rey, where he had his ear stitched up and was later locked up. Inside you’ll find exhibits chronicling his stay. The hospital’s courtyard has been remodelled to resemble as closely as possible his famous painting ‘Le Jardin de l’Hôtel de Dieu’. You’ll also pass by the Reattu Fine Arts Museum, which houses many of Van Gogh letters, and the famous Café Terrace on the Place du Forum.

Vincent Van Gogh moved to Provence in 1888, during a time of ill health. He fell in love with the landscape and the rich light, and decided to stay and try to set up an artists’ colony.

Initially, he settled in Arles, where he created over 300 paintings and drawings, some of his best-known works – including the famous ‘Sunflowers’ paintings (now held in the Neue Pinakothek in Munich, National Gallery in London, Philadelphia Museum of Art, Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam and the Sompo Japan Museum of Art in Tokyo).

The following year however, in 1889, after a bout of poor mental health, Van Gogh committed himself to the St-Paul-de-Mausole asylum just outside Saint-Remy. There he painted more of his masterpieces, including The Starry Night, now displayed in New York’s Museum of Modern Art (MoMA).

As prime spots where Van Gogh lived and painted, the towns of Arles and Saint-Remy both regret not hanging on to any of Van Gogh’s original works while he was alive. To make up for it, each has set up a self-guided Van Gogh Walk, pinpointing the scenic spots where the master planted his easel.

Arles is world-famous thanks to Van Gogh, but to the city’s eternal regret no one bought any of his paintings. This foundation, in the newly renovated Hotel Leautaud de Donines, is dedicated to art exhibitions inspired by the artist.