Walking trail through Van Gogh's landscapes
Vincent van Gogh arrived in Arles in February 1888. He stayed 15 months. In that time, he produced more than 300 paintings and drawings – sunflowers, starry nights, blossoming orchards, the yellow house on Place Lamartine.
The Van Gogh Trail traces the parts of the city that shaped his most prolific period. You’ll find numbered panels at key locations around the city which show the original painting alongside the scene as it looks today – meshing past and present together beautifully.
The route is self-guided and easy to follow on foot. Pick up a map from the tourist office or download it to your phone before you set off. The full trail takes around 2 hours at a gentle pace, though you’ll want to linger along the way.
Stand where he stood on the Pont de Trinquetaille, or in the courtyard of what was then the hospital on Place Victor Hugo (now a garden open to visitors). From these vantage points, the paintings stop being simply facets of art history and start feeling personal. Most of the locations are in or just around the old town, so you can weave it naturally into a day’s exploring. The Fondation Vincent van Gogh Arles, meanwhile, is well worth a visit for its temporary exhibitions and beautifully curated permanent collection.
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