Traveling with the Artist: Van Gogh’s Journey Through France 🎨✈️

Inspired by the "Encountering Van Gogh" trend, I revisited my old notes about the Dutch master’s French odyssey—from Paris to Arles, Saintes-Maries-de-la-Mer, and finally, his last refuge near Paris. 🌻 Van Gogh in Montmartre, Paris When Van Gogh arrived in Paris in March 1886 (age 33), Montmartre was the artistic epicenter. Here, he reunited with his art-dealer brother Theo and began obsessing over "vibrant yellows". 📍 Key spots: 54 Rue Lepic (his blue-door apartment, next to Amélie’s café!) 10 Rue Constance (his painting studio) Moulin de la Galette (featured in his works) Le Lapin Agile (haunt of Picasso & Modigliani too!) Fun fact: He hated Paris’ chaos but adored its light—"Like a Japanese print come alive!" 🌆 🌞 Arles: Where the Sun Ignited His Genius Step into Arles, and you’re inside Van Gogh’s canvases—sunflowers, starry nights, and that iconic yellow café. Though he stayed just 15 months, he painted 300+ works here, calling it: "The air is pure, the colors dazzle… the sun melts gold into the landscape." 💛 Don’t miss: The actual "Bedroom" (spoiler: the walls really slant!) Café Terrace at Night (still serving espresso under those gas lamps) ⛵ Sainte-Maries-de-la-Mer: Sea Blues & Fishing Boats In 1888, Van Gogh took a 50km trip to this coastal village, painting The Fishing Boats on the Beach—now split across 4 museums (Amsterdam, Brussels, Moscow, Zurich). Why he loved it: "The Mediterranean wears a hue like mackerel—always changing!" 🌊 ⚰️ Auvers-sur-Oise: The Final Brushstrokes Just north of Paris, this quiet village witnessed Van Gogh’s last 70 days—and 70+ paintings, including: The Church at Auvers (swirling skies) Wheatfield with Crows (his ominous farewell) Pilgrimage notes: His grave (covered in ivy) lies beside Theo’s in the village cemetery. The inn where he died still stands—a humble room with one chair, one bed. 🎬 Van Gogh on Screen For deeper dives: Lust for Life (1956) 🌟 Van Gogh (1991) 🎨 Van Gogh: Painted with Words (2010) 📖 Loving Vincent (2017) 🌌 (First fully oil-painted film!) #VanGoghsFrance #ArtTravel #ImpressionistTrail #ParisToProvence #StarryVoyage