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Origin and history

The Van-Gogh Bridge is a double-levis tilting bridge built in the 19th century along the Arles to Bouc Navigation Canal. It was part of a series of eleven identical bridges, designed by a Dutch engineer between 1820 and 1830, and inaugurated in 1837. Originally nicknamed the Langlois Bridge (named after its guardian), Vincent van Gogh, misunderstood him, renamed it the English Bridge — a name that persists in the form of the Anglo Bridge. This bridge, reminding the painter of his homeland, was immortalized in 1888 through four canvases, two drawings, a watercolour and a sketch, marking his Japanese influence and admiration for the Provencal light.

Destined to facilitate river navigation, the original bridge was destroyed in 1926, replaced in 1930 by a concrete structure. During World War II, German troops destroyed all the canal bridges in 1944, except Fos-sur-Mer. An identical bridge, dismantled in 1959, was bought by Arles and resettled in 1962 a few kilometers from the original location. Although it is not the bridge painted by Van Gogh, it is now named after Van Gogh and was listed as a historic monument in 1988 (except for batteries, public river estate).

Van Gogh's works, made between March and May 1888, bear witness to his fascination for this reason, which he described as as as beautiful as Japan in a letter to Émile Bernard. The painter experimented with dynamic compositions inspired by Japanese prints, using guidelines drawn by string. The lock house, registered in 1986, was destroyed by fire in 2016, while the bridge was completely restored in 1997.

Today located in Mayenen and Charugniard district, the Van-Gogh Bridge is partly managed by an association and the state. Its history reflects both 19th century river engineering, post-impressionist artistic heritage, and the vagaries of heritage preservation in France.

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