Maison de St Paul de Mausole
First built as a monastery in about 900, the site was already known as place of prayer and meditation. Its name recalls the nearby Roman mausoleum at Glanum, just a few hundred metres away.

For many years St Paul was a popular resting point for pilgrims following in the footsteps of St Jacques de Compostelle. Although its original mission was to provide a welcome refuge for the poor and the needy, it gradually developed as place of sanctuary for outcasts, in particular those suffering from mental illness. The care and dedication of the staff at St Paul soon became well known in the region; its position as a place of care and prayer became well established throughout many generations.

The monastery seems to have prospered until the beginning of the 14th century, but then suffered a period of decline. By the beginning of the 16th century it had been virtually abandoned. The monastery's reputation as a sanctuary for the mentally ill was restored in 1605 when the Franciscans took responsibility for the buildings and transformed them into an insane asylum.

In 1790, following the French Revolution, the site was sold by the State and the monks were expelled. In 1807 it was bought by Dr Mercurin and operated once more as an asylum and its connections with the church were restored through the Sisters of Saint Vincent de Paul who helped to provide the medical care.

In 1885 St Paul was registered as an asylum for 50 men and 50 women and in 1866, the Sisters of Saint Joseph de Viviers, still present today, took over the responsibilities of the Sisters of St Vincent de Paul. In 1890 another Vincent became associated with St Paul - Vincent Van Gogh, now one of the most celebrated artists of the 19th century.

During the 1914-18 war St Paul was used to hold prisoners from Alsace and Lorraine, including Dr Albert Schweitzer, who would later receive the Nobel peace prize. During the Second World War the premises was occupied by the German army and it took some time afterwards for the Hospital to fully resume its activities and position.

Since the 1960s St Paul de Mausole has once again prospered and today it offers excellent short and long term care as well as out-patient facilities. It is now a hospital for female patients, with up to 117 residential places and approximately 100 staff. It is managed as a non-profit organisation by the Association Saint Paul de Mausole.

Members of the public can visit the adjoining church and cloisters, as well as a small museum offering an insight into the conditions and treatment offered at the hospital during the time of Van Gogh. In the gallery and gift shop they can also buy original works by art-therapy patients, reproductions of Van Gogh's paintings and other items of interest. Although the gardens painted by Van Gogh are reserved to hospital patients, visitors can retrace his footsteps in the surrounding grounds and countryside, pausing at places where he painted some of his famous works.

The gallery, shop, museum and cloisters are open throughout the year.

For further information about the work of the centre for art and music therapy contact:
Association Valetudo
Maison de Santé de St Paul de Mausole
13210 Saint Rémy de Provence
e-mail: valetudo@artdumidi.com

For general information and visiting enquiries contact:
Association Saint-Paul-de-Mausole
Baux Road, BP 39
13532 Saint-Rémy-de-Provence cedex

Tél. O4 99 92 77 00 / Int. +33 499 927 700
e-mail: maison.sante.st.paul@wanadoo.fr

For general tourist information contact:
Bureau de Tourisme
Saint-Rémy-de-Provence
Tél. 04 90 92 05 22 / Int. +33 490 205 522
www.saintremy-de-provence.com