Auvers-sur-Oise
 

One of my favorite day trips from Paris goes to nearby Auvers-sur-Oise, former stomping ground of Impressionists painters like Cezanne, and Van Gogh, who during the last several months of his life furiously painted village scenes before committing suicide here. A nearly untouched old-time French village on the lazy Oise river, Auvers' bucolic beauty attracted many Impressionists in the late 1800s. Van Gogh produced many now famous works here. The neat thing about Auvers today is that many reproductions of his and other Impressionists works have been erected right at the spot they were orignially painted, such at the parish church and in nearby cornfield famously painted by Van Gogh. Pick up details on the Impressionsits circuit at the tourist info office to do the few-mile stroll. Other sights include the restored Auberge Ravoux, where Van Gogh lived, often drank the green fairy, absinthe, and died. The room he died in has been left as it was when he expired, the cemetery with his grave and the Auvers Chateau, whose interior now re-creates the life of the Impressionists through a multi-media show. Trains run often to Auvers in about 45 minutes from Paris, usually with one change. Ask for an all-inclusive ticket covering rail fare and admission to the chateau. How have other folks found Auvers?

I liked it very much, but don't really recall how I found it. Probably because I have always known and read a lot about impressionist painters, so have known for years that this village was where Van Gogh was buried and last lived, and did some paintings. I knew about it for years.

We loved it, particularly the show at the chateau.

PB,
Visited (by car)last January. It was raining, which seemed appropriate when we visited his grave. I liked the village and enjoyed the old, vine covered buildings off of the main street. Chateau was closed (we went on a sunday). We visited the tourist centre, and it seemed that this summer was the time to go since it is the 150th anniversary of his death this year.

Enjoyed the idea of having a copy of his painting outside of the small church, to compare what he saw with what I saw. Also visited Isle D'Adam whci was a nice town.
I would go back in the summertime. The countryside around the town seems very nice and worth exploring

This is one of 2 day trips we have planned for next month, I am so glad to hear you all have enjoyed it so much. And I also thank Ron, again, for his detailed day trip file

Sounds like a great daytrip. At what station do you catch the train?

The directions I have are SNCF
train from Gare de Nord , change at Pontoise to the local to Auvers-sur-Oise. I can't locate my RER directions , but I do remember that ift was from La Defense

I liked it very much, too. Bought the all-inclusive ticket and took RER C to Pontoise and changed to a local train to get to AsO. The RATP directions will advise you to change at the stop before Pontoise, but there is a new stop on line C with almost the same name, so if you get off at the wrong one, you have to wait for another train to come along (which I did). I'd just go to Pontoise and retrace my steps--I think it's just one stop further and the end of the line, so you don't have to watch for it.

Besides the Gare St Lazare rail route, you can also go from the Gare du Nord via a different route in about the same time. I got off at the station just up the Oise River and had a nice riverside walk on the tow path a few miles to Auvers.