24 January 2022 | Culture
The villages that inspired French painters
Let's start with:
Saint-Paul-de-Vence, (Alpes Maritimes)
It was the obligatory passage for artists, such as: Matisse, Modigliani, Jacques Prévert or Giono who frequented the village. Discover the alleys that have inspired the biggest names. Surrounded by ramparts, the village dominates the surrounding landscape at the top of a hill. You can get lost and admire the freshness of this village with its old stones and climbing vegetation. The Chapel of the White Penitents, the decor of which was created by the painter Jean-Michel Folon.
The Colombe d'Or inn This is the place where Matisse, Picasso and Léger stopped. Saint-Paul de Vence is linked to the Maeht couple, in their foundation, located outside the village, the works of Miró, Giacometti, Calder.
Saint-Cirq Lapopie, (Lot)
The painter André Breton fell in love with the village of Saint-Cirq-Lapopie.
Saint-Cirq-Lapopie becomes a hub of surrealism, when André Breton's friends: Ray, Dalí, Picabia, Toyen or Max Ernst stay regularly.
Barbizon (Seine-et-Marne)
Barbizon has attracted many painters in search of greenery, such as Camille Corot, Jean-François Millet, or Théodore Rousseau. In 1875 there were about a hundred artists there. It is no coincidence that this former hamlet of lumberjacks is nicknamed the "village of painters". Discover our rental properties to spend the holidays near the most inspiring French villages. Located between the forest of Fontainebleau and the plain, Barbizon was, in the 19th century, the favorite place of landscape painters. In 1863, the young impressionists Monet, Renoir, Sisley also came to Barbizon but hardly stayed there.
Auvers-sur-Oise (Val-d'Oise)
A charming corner of the countryside just 30 kilometers from Paris. Other names such as Monet, Cézanne, or even Pissaro have marked history. But also, Van Gogh, installed in Auverge Ravouc, he spent the last months of his life in Auvers-sur-Oise and painted many canvases there. He is also buried alongside his brother, under a carpet of ivy. You can discover the Château d'Auvers as well as the absinthe museum. Van Gogh before shooting himself in the chest, painted more than 70 canvases… in 70 days! Paintings so well known today that the places seem familiar to us.
Collioure (Pyrénées-Orientales)
Discover the city of Collioure in our latest articles: https://www.purefrance.com/fr/blog/les-9-endroits-a-ne-pas-manquer-a-collioure
As you browse the site, remember that Collioure was the workshop of Fauvism with Matisse and Derain, visited by Dufy, Marquet and so many others. Collioure was first and foremost an opportunity for these artists to free themselves from the grip of the visible.
Saint-Tropez
Before welcoming yachts from all over the world, Saint-Tropez was a modest fishing village that first capsized the hearts of painters like Paul Signac. The neo-impressionist invites his friends there, including Henri Matisse, Pierre Bonnard and Raoul Dufy. Everyone, charmed by the wild landscapes of Saint-Tropez. In the old chapel of the Annonciade, you will find the museum, which is more than 100 years old and brings together some pointillist, nabi or fauvist masterpieces.
Discover them here: https://www.purefrance.com