The Saint Paul de Mausole Monastery is included in many day tours of the Provençal countryside that set out from Avignon, Arles, or Montpelier. To learn more about Van Gogh’s time in Provence, choose a Van Gogh-themed tour and visit the landmarks that appear in some of the artist’s most famous works.
Saint Paul de Mausole still functions as a psychiatric health institution today, but visitors are welcome to tour the public areas of the asylum and view a reproduction of the room where Van Gogh was confined. You can browse works of art for sale made by patients at the asylum and visit the monastery gardens.
The Saint Paul de Mausole Monastery is located just outside Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, 16 miles (26 kilometers) south of Avignon and 17 miles (28 kilometers) northeast of Arles. The monastery is easily accessed by car, bike, or on foot from the center of Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. Public transportation is limited in Provence, so booking a guided tour is an easy and efficient way to see the area's highlights if you don’t have a car.
Visit the Saint-Paul de Mausole Monastery in the spring or early summer to see the gardens in bloom. The monastery is open daily to visitors from April through September from 9:30am to 6:45pm. Opening hours are limited from October through March and the monastery may temporarily close in January or February. If visiting during this time, it is best to check the monastery website for current hours prior to your visit.
Vincent Van Gogh voluntarily committed himself to the St. Paul-de-Mausole Asylum in May of 1889. While recuperating, Van Gogh discovered the beauty of the landscapes that surrounded the monastery and was inspired to create many of his most-loved masterpieces including The Irises, Starry Night, and Wheatfield with Cypresses. Van Gogh’s time at St Paul-de-Mausole was one of his most productive and he created nearly 250 drawings and paintings during this time.
