Pont-Avon

OK, for all you art historians, here is your test. What famous painter is the town of Pont-Aven associated with? If you answered, Paul Gauguin, (buzzer sound, please), you are indeed the winner. For years, Pont-Aven has been a haven for the artist community, first starting with Gauguin and his Pont-Aven school, circa 1888. This group of painters made famous the painting technique of Syntheticism.

Originally lured to the small village because he had just lost his job as stock broker, Gauguin headed here because, well let’s face it, it had cheaper digs than Paris. He soon realized that it was a wonderful setting for his paintings.

The Budman and I spent almost a full day here, walking the town, putzing about in shops, and seeing many of the exact vistas that Gauguin painted on his canvases.

This town was just brimming with beautiful nooks and crannies. It did sprinkle on us the entire day, as is evidenced by some of the pics…























In the afternoon, we hiked up into the Bois d’Amour (it was a perfect fall day for a stroll in the Forest of Love!), and visited the small chapel, Chapelle de Tremalo, that features the crucifix which is the subject of Gauguin’s The Yellow Christ.