AUVERS-SUR-OISE - French Town in Which Vincent Van Gogh Painted And Was Buried (Day Trip from Paris)

Fans of Vincent Van Gogh often look to the Parisian D’Orsay Museum, the Arles Sanitarium, or the Netherland’s Vincent Van Gogh museum to get their fix of the renowned artist. However, not many look to Auvers-sur-Oise, despite the fact that it is so intimately connected to Van Gogh.

A panoramic shot of Auvers-sur-Oise, the town in which Vincent Van Gogh spent his final months before being laid to rest

Auvers-sur-Oise, a small town about an hour away from the French capital, is Van Gogh’s final resting place. He spent his last few months painting various scenes throughout the town, and eventually was laid to rest next to his brother Theodore’s grave. As this town is lesser known than other Van Gogh touristic spots, it makes for a very relaxing and fuss-free visit. This is a great destination for those who like local tourism, without tons of souvenir shops or other money-grabs.

A garden and pond within Auvers-sur-Oise, France. It’s easy to see how Vincent Van Gogh was inspired in this town!

If you enjoy Vincent’s painting, be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the real-life version of all the landmarks he painted during his time in Auvers-sur-Oise.

There are five things about the Auvers-sur-Oise that I want to shed some light on. They are:

The church
Theodore Van Gogh and Vincent Van Gogh’s grave
L’Hôtel de Ville
The cornfield
The castle
The bookstore

Let’s take a closer look at all of these things:

1. The Church

The Church in Auvers-sur-Oise (Église Notre-Dame d'Auvers) was painted numerous times by Vincent, most notably “The Church at Auvers” (seen below). Besides the interest of seeing the photo subject with your own eyes, the church is a beautiful Romanesque-Gothic structure built in the 12th century.

Although small in structure when compared with other prominent French churches, the architecture is striking and sinuous. The interior is quite dark, but somehow there is still a quiet and peaceful intimacy. It’s easy to sit inside, and picture Van Gogh reflecting on his soon-to-be-created masterpiece.

This particular painting can be viewed in the Musée d’Orsay, but it is quite striking to see it in person. There is a majesty to the structure, which is further exaggerated given it’s central location in the town. It’s perched atop the highest hill, and you can see all of Auvers sprawling below it.

Vincent Van Gogh’s Final Resting Place

There is an air of peace that besets Vincent’s grave. Despite his tumultuous life, his final resting place is simple, and calming.

Eternally nestled next to his brother, Vincent’s grave is wrapped by wisteria and sunflowers.

The painter seems to be buried in exactly the type of place which he would feel compelled to paint.

The Wheatfield

Vincent Van Gogh’s piece “Wheatfield with Crows”, supposedly his final painting, was inspired by the large field in Auvers-sur-Oise.

Vincent painted this particular field multiple times throughout his stay in the French town. When visiting yourself, the slight breeze that tousles the wheat still growing in the area makes it very easy to imagine being a painter yourself.

This particular painting can be seen in the Van Gogh museum in Amsterdam.

I personally didn’t see any crows on the day that I was there, but some of locals did tell me that they are a common sight when the weather is nice.

L’Hôtel de Ville

Auvers-sur-Oise has an Hôtel de Ville (La Mairie d’Auvers-sur-Oise) that is located in the town centre. There are a few cafés in the square, in which you can sit down and grab a drink while soaking in the structure.

Across from the Hôtel de Ville is the Auberge Ravoux, which is the hostel that housed Vincent during his stay in the town.

Van Gogh’s most famous painting of the Mairie is “Hôtel de Ville”, which is currently owned by a private collector. However, you can still view the minimalistic building for yourself in person.

Auvers Castle (Château d’Auvers)

The Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise features a multimedia exhibit (entitled « Vision Impressionniste » or, Impressionist Vision) dedicated to the life and art of Vincent Van Gogh, and other notable Impressionist artists (Claude Monet, Gustave Caillebotte, etc…). The exhibit also gives background information on the town, and how it has served as a backdrop for many painters over the years.

Apart from the interesting exhibit, the estate itself is a great piece of 17th-century architecture. There is also a garden and fountain out front which makes for a scenic rest, or a fabulous photo op.

The castle does have parking, so it’s easily accessible by locals and tourists alike.

The castle is perched atop a hill, so there are fantastic panoramic views of Auvers-sur-Oise below. I highly recommend taking the time to visit the castle if you happen to visit this town.

The bookstore (La Caverne Aux Livres)

Not connected to Vincent Van Gogh, but definitely worth a visit, is the bookstore La Caverne aux Livres! I enjoyed this bookstore so much that I ended up missing my original train home, and had to grab a later one.

Although the bookstore’s entrance is fairly normal, once inside, you can pass into the actual interior - a train!

This used bookstore uses an old train to house all of its novels, in a very unique way. As you pass through, you feel transported to another era.

The bookstore has books in many different languages, and the prices are very fair.

For a unique and magical outing, take a visit to this bookstore! But do beware - you can be engrossed here for hours!

How to get there

It takes approximately 1 hour to get to Auvers-sur-Oise from Paris. It is very doable as a half-day trip.

If you have a metro pass (a Mobilis pass or a Navigo pass) that goes to Zone 5, then this trip is completely free! For the metro pass option, you will need to change trains once.

Go to Gare du Nord or Saint-Lazare, and take a Transilien train towards the terminal stop Persan-Beaumont. Get off at Persan-Beaumont, and board a new train with the terminal stop Pontoise. Get off at the stop Auvers. It is the fourth stop on the journey.

If you don’t have a metro pass, you can purchase a train ticket either online via the SNCF website, or at the SNCF ticket booths at Gare du Nord.

Buy a ticket for the destination “Auvers-sur-Oise”, and follow the instructions on the boards in regards to the correct platform.

My particular journey took 1 hour and 5 minutes, as I took a Transilien train with my Navigo pass.

All in all, for fans of Vincent Van Gogh, Auvers-sur-Oise is a day trip that, while inexpensive in regards to fare, is rich in regards to landmarks.

Even if you’re not a fan of the painter, it is a picturesque town that is not riddled with tourists. Both the interior and exterior locals are worth seeing, and I highly recommend it!