There is an endless list of amazing cities and towns a train ride away from Paris – and you’d be surprised how many you can reach using your carte Navigo! One destination in particular is a recent discovery of mine: the artistic and idyllic town of Auvers-sur-Oise.
While it’s best known for being the one-time home of famous painter Vincent van Gogh, I was surprised to discover that Auvers-sur-Oise had plenty more to offer. What’s more, it’s located just a little over an hour away from central Paris, making it a great choice if you fancy a day trip outside the city.
How to get Auvers-sur-Oise from Paris
While there are a variety of ways to get to Auvers-sur-Oise from Paris, the easiest and fastest way is by train.
As Auvers-sur-Oise is a commune in the suburbs of Paris, it can be reached using the Transilien train lines. The two most popular departure points are Gare de Nord and Gare Saint-Lazare.
From Gare de Nord, you can take either Transilien U or Transilien H, headed in the direction of Pontoise. On both these routes you will need to change at St-Ouen-l’Aumône station onto Transilien H Creil, which will take you straight to Auvers-sur-Oise.
From Gare St-Lazare, you can take Transilien J in the direction of Pontoise, and change Transilien H Creil at Gare de Pontoise. You can also take metro lines and the RER from here, but that requires multiple changes, whereas the Transilien is much more straightforward.
All these lines run multiple times throughout the day from both train stations, so if you miss one there will be another one coming in roughly a half hour.
If you hold a Navigo pass, you can take either of these routes free of charge. If you do not have a pass, you will need to purchase a ticket either at the train station prior to your departure. As it’s within the Ile-de-France region, this will typically cost you under €6.15 each way.
What to do in Auvers-sur-Oise
Maison de van Gogh
Despite being such a big part of the identity of Auvers-sur-Oise, Vincent van Gogh actually only spent 70 days in the town prior to his death. During this time, he lived in a room above The Ravoux Inn, a restaurant that’s still running today.
van Gogh moved into the attic room on 20 May 1890, and went on to produce dozens of paintings there. He sadly died there on 29 July 1890 with his brother Theo at his side.
The room, now empty, has remained untouched since 1890 and is open to visitors at a cost of €6 for adults and €4 for children 12-17. Children under the age of 12 are allowed in free.
For more information, you can visit their official website.
Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise
When visiting, my friend and I were thrilled to discover the beautiful Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise. Dating back to the 1600s, it is a classic French château with lavish gardens remniscient of Versailles.
While we didn’t enter the château, it was free to wander the grounds and gardens.
The château frequently plays host to events such as La Guinguette de Printemps, Les Irisiades, and La nuit des musées. It is also a popular pick for taking marriage photos.
Maison-Atelier de Daubigny
The former home of artist Charles François-Daubigny, the historical monument is now home to a sizeable collection of artwork by the likes of Corot, Daumier, Oudinot, and Daubigny himself. The house and gardens are pieces of art themselves.
The museum costs €6 for adults, with a reduced fee of €4, and free entry for children under 12. For more details, you can visit their official website.
Musée Daubigny
If you’d like to see more artwork while in Auvers-sur-Oise, you can visit the Musée Daubigny. Besides work by Daubigny, other permanent collections include Feline Art (a must-see for cat lovers), Naive Art, and art from the 19th and 20th century. There are also frequent temporary exhibitions.
Musée d’Absinthe
A quirky little museum my friend and I stumbled upon while visiting the town is the Musée d’Absinthe. Filled with absinthe spoons, old posters, and absinthe fountains, it is a fun way to learn about the history of the “green fairy” in France.
There are absinthe tastings that take place there every so often, but unfortunately it was not happening the day we were there. We still took the time to check out the garden, however, which is filled with plants that make up the ingredients in absinthe.
Eglise Notre-Dame d’Auvers
Just a short walk uphill from the train station is the town cathedral. While an impressive structure in its own right, it’s main draw is the fact that Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo are buried nearby in the Auvers-sur-Oise town cemetery.
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