Day Thirteen - Auvers-sur-Oise, France

This morning, Victoria and her parents picked me up at the hotel, and we drove to Auvers-sur-Oise. Although it's only about twenty miles from central Paris, it takes some time to get there due to the heavy traffic.  However, once you arrive, it's like a different world. In the late 1800's, a number of artists lived and worked in Auvers-sur-Oise, the most famous being Vincent Van Gogh. Others included Cezanne, Pissarro, and Daubigny. Van Gogh moved there in May 1890, and lived the last months of his life, painting the wheat fields, gardens, cottages, and portraits. He completed over seventy paintings in the last few weeks of his life, as well as drawings and sketches. Van Gogh is buried outside of town, next to his brother and good friend, Theo.

A walk into town gives you an idea of what it would've been like to paint in the countryside. The sign above is where Van Gogh's easel was set up.

Places in the town where Van Gogh painted have signs set up with a copy of the finished painting.

The boarding house where Van Gogh slept and took his meals has been turned into a very nice restaurant, where we had lunch. Outside, wine and two glasses are always set up.

 There is honeysuckle growing alongside of the restaurant!

 The light here is incredible!