Auvers-sur-Oise has long attracted artists of all kinds to its beautiful, tranquil surroundings. Among them Paul Cézanne, Camille Pissarro... and Vincent Van Gogh. This small town, some 30 km from Paris, was even the last home of the sunflower painter: he died here over 130 years ago, on July 29, 1890. Today, the town attracts many art enthusiasts, who come to admire the places painted by Van Gogh.
Walking through Auvers-sur-Oise is like walking through the Dutch painter's paintings. Signs along the way allow us to compare the work with reality. We linger in front of the town's church, imagine the ears of wheat gently growing in the fields, visit the former home of Docteur Gachet or meditate for a moment at the grave of Vincent Van Gogh, buried alongside his brother Theo.
The town also boasts a beautiful château château, a museum, the Daubigny Museum and, of course, the must-seeAuberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh and many of his fellow artists stayed. Nearby, you can also walk through the painter's last painting, his"Tree Roots", to follow in his footsteps during the last moments of his life.
All year round, you can take the train to Auvers-sur-Oise from Gare du Nord, on the H line. But without the Train des Impressionnistes, which takes you directly there only on weekends from April to October, you'll need to take a connecting train or get off at Méry-sur-Oise, and enjoy a lovely 20-minute walk to get there.
Did you know? 5 unusual anecdotes about the Auberge Ravoux, Van Gogh's home in Auvers-sur-Oise
The Auberge Ravoux, a landmark in Auvers-sur-Oise, is best known for having been home to Vincent van Gogh's last days. But behind this reputation lie many surprising stories. Here are five more or less well-known anecdotes about this inn like no other! [Read more]
For Vincent Van Gogh, the end of a life is not the end of everything. Although we would have liked him to have lived longer, to have painted more masterpieces, Van Gogh's career continues long after his death. His story lives on in the museums and associations that pay tribute to him. It lives on through his family, through the descendants of his brother. And it lives on through all the enthusiasts, all those who were touched by his art and who, in turn, come to walk the paths of Auvers-sur-Oise.
La Caverne aux Livres: an unusual bookstore nestled inside a vintage 1930s train carriage in Auvers-sur-Oise (95)
In Auvers-sur-Oise, SNCF train cars aren’t just for travel… they house La Caverne aux Livres. This quirky bookstore offers a truly unique journey through shelves overflowing with stories. Just a short walk from the station, every page turn feels like a surprising stop along the way, right in the heart of Val-d'Oise (95). [Read more]
The Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise, the Impressionist treasure and its program
Discover the Château d'Auvers-sur-Oise and its sublime English gardens. Throughout the year, exhibitions and events focusing on Impressionism await you. [Read more]
The Auberge Ravoux and the Maison Van Gogh: a journey in the painter's footsteps at Auvers-sur-Oise (95)
Do you know the Auberge Ravoux? Nestled in Auvers-sur-Oise, this historic eatery is also home to the "Maison de Van Gogh", where you can follow in the illustrious Dutch painter's footsteps. [Read more]
La Maison du docteur Gachet, between art and history: Impressionist immersion in Auvers-sur-Oise
The Maison du Docteur Gachet in Auvers-sur-Oise is reopening its doors until November 2, 2025. This emblematic site, where Vincent van Gogh stayed in 1890, features a new scenography and the Empreintes Gravées exhibition, on view from Wednesday to Sunday. [Read more]
Musée Daubigny: an artistic immersion in the landscapes of Auvers-sur-Oise
For a cultural getaway just a stone's throw from Paris, head for the Musée Daubigny, in the former Colombières manor house in Auvers-sur-Oise, where paintings and engravings dedicated to 19th-century landscapes are on display. [Read more]
Just a few yards from the Auberge Ravoux, a beautiful wooded area that doesn't look like much hides a little treasure. Hidden for almost a hundred years, a small path that linked the village to the wheat fields invites you to wander through what was the last painting by Vincent Van Gogh, on the day of his suicide attempt,"Racines d'arbres".
You can visualize the work in front of you and follow in his footsteps, in eight stages. While the site is very pretty and offers a lovely moment of tranquillity under the trees, it is aimed primarily at fans of the painter, who would like to make a pilgrimage in his last footsteps. Otherwise, you can just as easily observe the painting from below!
Just beyond the roots, you'll find this place, not to be confused with the nearby Musée Daubigny. Here, you can discover numerous paintings executed on the walls by Daubigny, Corot, Daumier or Oudinot. Classified as a Historic Monument in 1993 and awarded the"Maison des Illustres" label, this first artistic home in Auvers, created in 1861 by Daubigny, is unfortunately not open all week, but only on Saturdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 2 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.
Some cemeteries have become tourist attractions, like Père Lachaise in Paris. The cemetery at Auvers-sur-Oise has been home to many a village soul for centuries, but its most famous remains that of Vincent Van Gogh, buried there after his death at the Auberge Ravoux. Joined a few months later by his beloved brother Theo, their graves are now a calm and majestic place of recollection, their two tombs overhung by beautiful ivy, to unite them forever in eternity.
Please note that it's been over 4 years since our last visit, so the place and experience may have changed.
Location
Auvers-sur-Oise
auvers-sur-oise
95430 Auvers sur Oise
Access
Transilien line H Auvers-sur-Oise station
Official website
www.ville-auverssuroise.fr
Did you know? 5 unusual anecdotes about the Auberge Ravoux, Van Gogh's home in Auvers-sur-Oise
