Artistic Journey (III) / Tracing Van Gogh’s Final Resting Place in Auvers-sur-Oise, Painted on an Impressionist Canvas

Written by / MOOK Scenic Spots Family Travel Network, Li Xinyi, compiled and reported. Source / MOOK Editorial Department

Auvers-sur-Oise is located in the northern suburbs of Paris. This small town became extraordinary because Post-Impressionist painter Vincent van Gogh spent his last two months here and produced many masterpieces. In 1890, as his condition worsened, Van Gogh went to Auvers-sur-Oise to seek treatment from Dr. Paul Gachet.

He stayed at the Auberge Ravoux. With the affirmation and care of Dr. Gachet, and the ability to visit his brother Theo living in Paris, Van Gogh’s days in Auvers-sur-Oise were clearly better than those in southern France. However, the good times didn’t last long. At that time, Theo was struggling with his seriously ill son and financial hardship. Van Gogh seemed to realize he had become a burden to his brother, and the fear of his illness recurring pushed him back to the brink of collapse. In the end, he took his own life with a gun.

The two months in Auvers-sur-Oise marked the climax of Van Gogh’s life. He painted over eighty works at an astonishing rate of more than one per day, including many well-known pieces such as “Portrait of Dr. Gachet,” “The Church at Auvers” (L’Eglise), and “Wheatfield with Crows.”

1. Auvers Church

In Van Gogh’s painting, the Auvers Church features green pillars, an orange roof, and blue windows, but in reality, it is not as vibrant. Also known as Notre-Dame Church, the building was constructed between the 12th and 13th centuries and was designated as a historical monument in 1915. Van Gogh painted the church from its rear side. Approaching from the town center, you must climb a set of stairs before seeing the front of the church. These stone stairs were also listed as a historical monument in 1947.

2. Daubigny’s Garden

Charles-François Daubigny (1817–1878), a painter greatly admired by Van Gogh, purchased this land across from the train station decades before Van Gogh arrived in Auvers. Van Gogh created several paintings titled “Daubigny’s Garden.” The garden is currently not open to the public, but there is a sign indicating Van Gogh’s painting near the courtyard. A two-story house overlooks the garden, offering a view of the top of the Auvers Church, just as vividly colorful as in Van Gogh’s original painting.

3. Auberge Ravoux (Van Gogh’s Residence)

Van Gogh lived here at a rate of 3.5 francs per day. Today, the first-floor restaurant still serves his favorite dish—Marinated Herring and Salmon with Warm Potatoes. Van Gogh’s room was on the second floor, a space of less than two tatami mats with a small window. Now, there isn’t even a bed—only a chair remains as a memorial. The third floor is an audiovisual room showcasing Van Gogh’s life story.

4. Dr. Gachet’s House

It was Dr. Gachet’s passion for painting that brought Van Gogh to Auvers for treatment. Dr. Gachet’s house is situated on a hill, with a yard full of flowers and chickens and ducks. The interior is filled with Impressionist paintings and antiques. Van Gogh sometimes dined at the Gachet home and painted portraits of the family. Dr. Gachet, resting his chin in his hand, looks somewhat melancholic, while his daughter, who plays the piano, appears quite radiant.