Paris Day
Trip : Auvers-sur-Oise
Day-Trip to Auvers-sur-Oise from
Paris
Auvers-sur-Oise is a small village that has managed to retain the
charm of days gone by, this despite its popularity amongst tourists and
amateur impressionist painters alike. Long before the arrival of its
most famous resident, Vincent Van Gogh, Auvers-sur-Oise, with its lush,
green valley had been a favoured spot for nature lovers. Charles
Daubigny, a native of the region, was one of the first to place his
easel by the Oise, setting up a floating studio in which he was able to
paint a succession of country scenes as the cool waters flowed by. He
arrived in Auvers in 1860 and was quick to invite numerous friends to
vacation nearby. These friends included Camille Picasso, Paul
Cézanne, Camille Corot, Berthe Morisot, and Daumier, the famous
caricaturist.
The dutch painter traveller, Van Gogh, arrived in the small village in
1889, following a stay in Arles. Modestly, he set up shop in the
boarding house Ravoux, which still exists today, having painstakingly
preserved the interior design of the era of its most famous client. The
small attic room, for which Van Gogh paid a sum of 3.50 francs per day,
meals included, is open to tourists. During his stay at Auvers Van Gogh
painted more than 70 pieces of the surrounding region, his life ending
as his mental health deteriorated, in 1890. He is buried in the village
cemetery next to his brother Theo. Today, numerous plaques document the
movements of Van Gogh around the village, marking his favoured spots
and those that inspired him most, including the famous church, his
painting of which is shown here.
Practical Information
Take the train from Gare St-Lazare or the Gare du Nord until Pontoise.
Change line and take the train in the direction Persent-Creil until the
station Auvers-sur-Oise.
Curiosities
- L'Auberge Ravoux: Where Van Gogh lived for 70 days, painting
70
pieces before dying in 1890. You can still eat and/or sleep here.
- Château d'Auvers Tour: An excellent educational journey into
the world of the impressionists, staged with the authentic decor and
re-enactments of the end of the 19th century.
