Mathilde Duvilliers van Gogh Scholar
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Vincent van Gogh wrote to his
brother Theo from San Rémy in 1890: ‘What the Impressionists have found in color will develop even more, but many forget the tie which binds them to the past, and I will show that I have little belief in a rigorous division between Impressionists and others.’ An excerpt from one of many letters the famed painter wrote during his most creative, and most conflicted, days in the asylum at San Rémy. I am in love with this artist for his talent, his sincerity and his sensitivity. I’ll share my insights on his complicated life when we walk in his footsteps in San Rémy.
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From the fruit of the vine to the fruits of your labors, you’ll experience an authentic taste of daily life in Provence!
4. BORIES, ABBEYS & BOULES A day in the Luberon is a visual feast with chalk cliffs, fairy-tale villages, bories, meadows and moorlands. In a nearby village, pick out the ingredients for a traditional picnic lunch — perhaps a baguette, fruits and meats, cheese, olives and, naturellement, wine… tempt your palate! Walk to beautiful Abbaye de Sénanque; your path is a treat for the senses. Depending on the time of year, you can see lavender in full bloom or golden
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wheat fields surrounding the 900-year-old abbey, still home to Cistercian monks. Unadorned and spartan in décor, the abbey resonates with silence and serenity, its Romanesque architectural details providing a harmonious backdrop to the simple monastic lifestyle found within. Self supporting, the abbey is financed by the cultivation of lavender and honey! Picnic on regional fare in a Provençal meadow, then return to Joucas where the remainder of the day is at your leisure. There are trails to hike, bikes to ride, an exquisite spa to rejuvenate body and soul, plus manicured gardens that provide a perfect backdrop for a relaxing date with a good book. Amply refreshed, join us for an informal lesson in the game of boules, a favorite Provençal tradition that is played with relish all over France’s country hamlets. Meals BL
DAY 5: KAYAKING & A PUB CRAWL Weather permitting, wet your appetite for adventure aboard a kayak today as you paddle along the picturesque, mysterious Sorgue River (landlubbers drive through
landscapes rich with scenic beauty and will not miss out should you wish to take the dry road); underground tributaries on the Vaucluse Plain burst forth into a full-fledged natural spring with a surprisingly deep pool at Fontaine-de-Vaucluse, pushing-off point for this hour-long boat ride. Glide past waterwheels, suspended in time, historic reminders of a time when grain and olive oil production were at their height, to L’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, where everyone meets up again. We’re off to Arles, the spiritual soul of Provence, this afternoon, for a walk back to the 7th century BC. Nestled among the pretty red roofs is the well-preserved Roman amphitheatre; go inside and hear echoes of the roaring crowds and stroll down boulevards lined with candy-colored shutters of 18th-century manor houses and into leafy squares that are paradise for the artist in you! van Gogh ultimately found peace in St-Rémy- de-Provence; your boutique hotel captures the small-town magic that enchanted him! Pub crawling is the best way to learn more about life here — not in the touristy places, but where the locals go. Meals B
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