Cézanne, Gaugin and other painters of the period found inspiration along the Oise, but the town of Auvers, some 35km north-west of Paris, is particularly famous for its association with Van Gogh. His last two months were spent in a frenzy of painting here, leaving some 70 works, among which number many of his best-known. He died in the Auberge Ravoux and lies buried, alongside his brother, in Auvers’ cemetery. The modest room in which he painted is open to visitors. At the edge of the town, there’s more in the way of an homage to the Impressionists at the Château d’Auvers (www.chateau-auvers.fr), where displays and an audio-visual show lend insight into their life and times. By road, take the A15 towards Cergy-Pontoise, then the D928. By train from the Gare du Nord, it’s an hour’s ride changing at Pontoise, with a direct service laid on in the summer.

Heritage Sites - Out Of City
http://www.auvers-sur-oise.com

This entry was taken from the Paris Complete Residents' Guide