In Auvers-sur-Oise, located in the Val-d'Oise (95), books are not gathering dust... they’re catching a train! Welcome to La Caverne aux Livres, a quirky bookstore housed inside a SNCF railway car from the 1930s, parked in a former freight hall just steps from the station. With its railroad-themed decor, timeless atmosphere, and a ticket straight to reading pleasure, it’s a journey you won’t want to miss.
For over thirty years, these railway wagons have been a familiar sight in the streets of Auvers. Among them, a true gem stands out: a secondhand bookstore born from a family story. Long operated by the Ferry family, La Caverne aux Livres was acquired by the town hall in 2017. This takeover marked a new chapter for the bookstore, with renovation work, increased visibility, and in 2020, a few wagons repainted in Bordeaux—a nod to pre-war art influences.
As soon as you step inside, the charm is undeniable. Shelves line the length of the wagon, offering tens of thousands of used books—eclectic titles in several languages—at prices accessible to all. Here, browsing is a pleasure: hunting for treasure, flipping through pages, taking your time. This is a treasured spot run by Antoine, one of the last booksellers remaining in Val-d’Oise.
Designated as a Historical Monument, this train-car bookstore also marks a point along the Path of the Painters, the cultural trail that tells the story of the artistic soul of Auvers-sur-Oise, the village that inspired Van Gogh, Cézanne, Pissarro, Renoir, Corot, Morisot, or Daubigny. Ultimately, the goal is clear: to see this entire route recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site.
At La Caverne aux Livres, visitors step inside without a set destination. It’s a bookshop on rails, where the journey begins long before turning the first page.
Location
Station Square
place de la gare auvers
95430 Auvers sur Oise
