Vincent Van Gogh moved to Arles for the lighting, and he must have seen something here, as some of his most famous works were completed during the year that he lived here, including 'The Night Cafe', 'Yellow Room' and 'Starry Night Over the Rhone'. The harsh sunlight on the olive trees and sunflowers, and the backdrop of the mountains fronted by the rural idyll are said to have brought him some peace from his depression.

Though he completed hundreds of paintings here, Arles has no originals on display, though it does have some of the original locations – 'The Night Cafe' was painted in the Place du Forum and the courtyard of the Espace Van Gogh was once his subject, in the 'Le Jardin de l'Hôtel-Dieu' – this was the courtyard of the hospital Van Gogh spent his last few days in Arles, recovering after he's cut off his ear - and has been maintained in as similar a state as possible. The rest of the Espace Van Gogh is a library and gallery dedicated to the artist. It's something of a pilgrimage site for those interested in the life of this great artist.

Written by  romantic poet.

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