Did you know there used to be a museum dedicated to absinthe, the drink that fascinated artists, in Val-d'Oise?

Dedicated to the famous "Green Fairy," this quirky venue in the Val-d’Oise invites you to step back into the world of cafés, artists, and the myths of the 19th century. Today bearing the Regional Heritage label, it captivates as much with the originality of its subject as with the cultural and historical perspective it offers on a beverage that has become legendary. And it’s open to visitors!

Just a stone’s throw from the Auberge Ravoux and the château, in the heart of Auvers-sur-Oise, in the Val-d'Oise, the Absinthe Museum opens a window on a different facet of the impressionist village. Entirely devoted to the “green fairy,” it also examines the world surrounding this drink—art, literature and social life in the 19th century. Today the venue carries the label Patrimoine d’intérêt régional from the Île-de-France Region. But what’s the real story behind this museum?

Its name simply derives from absinthe, that iconic 19th‑century spirit that shaped cafés, social rituals and the artistic imagination of the era. The museum grew out of the passion of Marie-Claude Delahaye, who began collecting objects tied to absinthe after discovering a perforated spoon in 1981. Piece by piece she carried out research, published works and organized exhibitions, before opening the museum in June 1994 in Auvers-sur-Oise. Her aim: to illuminate the history of this drink, its uses, and the role it played in 19th‑century society.

The site recreates the atmosphere of Belle Époque cafés and gathers a wealth of period objects—posters, advertisements, artworks, and accessories tied to the absinthe ritual. It also helps illuminate the links between this drink, the artists, the poets, and the Parisian cafés. Situated between the Auberge Ravoux and the château d’Auvers, the museum naturally fits into the village’s cultural itinerary, completing the exploration of this era.

The museum tells, at once, the story of a drink and the broader era that shaped it—when cafés mushroomed, urban life thrived, art flourished, and absinthe was banned in 1915. It remains open to the public today and also hosts groups and events. With its garden, shop, and the independent tea-room and bar À l’Heure Verte, it continues this immersion into the atmosphere of the 19th century.

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