Hospice de la Charité (ancien)
MonumentHidden Treasure
Hospice de la Charité (ancien), located in Arles (Bouches-du-Rhône), is a Renaissance château built in the 16th century. The monument is currently closed to visitors.
Key facts
- Type
- autre
- Period
- Renaissance (16th century)
- Location
- Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
- Visit
- Closed to visitors
- GPS
- 43.6751, 4.6288
- Mérimée Reference
- PA00081141
In the heart of Arles, the former Hospice de la Charité stands as a fine example of Provençal Baroque architecture, listed as a Historic Monument; it is a poignant testament to the care provided for the poor under the Ancien Régime, and is closely linked to Van Gogh’s stay there.
History
The former Hospice de la Charité (Charity Hospice) in Arles stands out in the urban fabric of the ancient city as a discreet monument imbued with a profound sense of humanity. Founded to care for the destitute, sick and vagrant in the tradition of the great Provençal charitable institutions, it is one of the few surviving Ancien Régime hospital complexes in the region. Its classification as a Historic Monument in 1927 testifies to its heritage value, which was recognised very early on by the authorities. What makes this building truly unique is its dual identity: as a Christian relief institution on the one hand, and a setting for artistic creation on the other. It was within these walls that Vincent van Gogh was hospitalised from May 1889, after his tumultuous stay at Saint-Rémy. The artist found an unlikely refuge here, and the interior gardens of the hospice inspired him to paint several canvases with a sunny chromaticism, including the famous depictions of flower beds and sunny courtyards. The echo of his presence still inhabits the place with an almost tangible presence. To visit the former Hospice de la Charité is to enter a space where the sober, functional architecture of 17th-century Provence meets an intense human history. The shaded passageways, interior cloister and vaulted rooms evoke both the monastic rigour of religious institutions and the southern atmosphere so characteristic of Arles. The warm, luminous local limestone bathes the whole complex in a typically Arlesian light. Now converted into a cultural and museum space, the building is home to the Espace Van Gogh, a place of remembrance and artistic creation that perpetuates the legacy of the Dutch painter. The central courtyard, faithfully recreated from the master's paintings, is one of the most photographed sites in Arles, offering visitors a unique experience in which the work of art and the architectural reality are brought together. The Arles setting heightens the emotion of the visit: just a stone's throw from the Roman forum, the Arenas and the ancient theatre, the Hospice de la Charité is a reminder that the city has been able to span the centuries by accumulating the strata of an exceptionally dense history, from Antiquity to the artistic modernity of the 19th century.
Architecture
The former Hospice de la Charité is a perfect example of Provençal hospital architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries, characterised by the sobriety of the façade contrasting with the functional richness of the interior spaces. The layout is organised around a square courtyard with galleries, typical of the region's religious and charitable foundations, where semi-circular arches resting on white limestone pillars create a shaded ambulatory. In the past, this layout helped to separate the different categories of residents, while providing essential natural ventilation in the Mediterranean climate. The exterior façades, finished in local cut stone in ochre and cream tones, have a simple elevation with mullioned windows and discreet moulded cornices. The main entrance, framed by a carved stone gate with soberly classical motifs, sets the tone for an architecture that favours dignity over ostentation. The low-pitched roofs, covered in traditional Roman tiles, complete the image of a building deeply rooted in Provencal building traditions. The interior features barrel-vaulted rooms and spaces with French ceilings, some of which still retain traces of their original decoration. The garden in the central courtyard, faithfully recreated from Van Gogh's paintings, is now the living heart of the monument: its geometric flowerbeds, central pool and southern trees offer a sensory and aesthetic experience that the painter immortalised with incomparable intensity of light.
Related Figures
Vincent van Gogh — peintre néerlandais soigné dans l'établissement en 1888-1889, qui immortalisa la cour intérieure dans plusieurs toiles célèbresPaul Gauguin — ami et compagnon de Van Gogh à Arles, dont la présence contribua au drame de décembre 1888 conduisant à l'hospitalisationFrédéric Mistral — poète provençal et prix Nobel de littérature, figure tutélaire d'Arles qui œuvra à la préservation du patrimoine arlésien au XIXe siècleFélix Rey — médecin interne de l'Hôtel-Dieu d'Arles qui soigna Van Gogh avec bienveillance et dont le portrait fut peint par l'artiste en janvier 1889Les Consuls d'Arles — magistrats municipaux des XVIIe et XVIIIe siècles à l'initiative de la fondation et du financement de l'établissement charitable
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Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Hospice de la Charité (ancien) located?
Hospice de la Charité (ancien) is located in Arles, Bouches-du-Rhône department, Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region, France.
When was Hospice de la Charité (ancien) built?
Hospice de la Charité (ancien) dates back to a period built during the Renaissance (16th century).
Is Hospice de la Charité (ancien) open to visitors?
Hospice de la Charité (ancien) is currently closed to visitors.