Inspirational Places

Long after the departure of the Impressionists, Auvers-sur-Oise continues to fascinate artists. Take a walk through the heart of today's art at the Contemporary Art Gallery, located in the 'Artists City', West  of the village. Discover the work of Guillaume Corneille, a fervent admirer of Van Gogh, a panoply of colourful still -life paintings of dishes or furniture. On the outside, a small garden awaits, complete with shuttle-cock mobile. The village also inspires musicians. Each year, the renowned classical music festival at Auvers-sur-Oise, from mid-May to mid-June, opens its doors to more contemporary creations. The concerts are programmed in historical monuments, like the church.

Just a few steps from the gallery, you will find the banks of the river Oise. Walk along this giant green riverbed, towards the West andadmire the picturesque landscapes that stretch to Pontoise. The young 19th-century artists bathed in this bucolic splendour to express themselves in their art. Find the peacefulness of the riverbed and the same passers by, on the road to Auvers, as in the paintings of Pissarro or the old sketches by Daubigny... For a guided visit to these inspirational places, choose the tour entitled Parcours des Peintres de la Vallée de l'Oise. The guides will explain the works of art and show you the spots of inspiration.

Note to the sporting: finish your day with a hike through the National Park of Vexin, where Van Gogh and the Impressionists liked to walk to contemplate the forest and the fields that border the Oise.