Vincent at Auvers-sur-Oise

A new watercolor print in my etsy shop from my visit to Auvers-sur-Oise last Saturday. Friends have been urging me to go for ages. Metro posters beckoned. It's a 38-minute direct train ride (on the weekends upstairs at Gare du Nord from platform 36 with the Transilien line). What a perfect town to paint. No wonder Pissarro, Corot, Cezanne, Daumier, Daubigny and Van Gogh immersed themselves here.

The Iris fete, 'L'amour au Jardin' was taking place at Chateau d'Avers.

While others headed off to the local tourist office I took the higher road

Up to the church famously painted by Van Gogh (pronounced Van Gog in France by the way). There are no original paintings in Auvers, but 19 posters will help you recognize the sites he painted.

No crows flying on Saturday either as in Van gogh's last painting, but the open, waving wheat fields easily makes you feel you've stepped into his painting. There was a touching (bi-lingual) letter at the cemetary written by an attendee at Van Gogh's funeral recounting his last days.

I can't say I was the biggest fan of Van Gogh though I've always loved his ink drawings in his letters to his brother, Theo, but visiting Auvers changed my mind.

The undulating rooftops, green hilly lawns, bushy plane trees make it easy to see what Van Gogh saw and felt.

The town wasn't crowded with too many tourists on such a beautiful day.

'Watch out for the cat'.

Wonderfully colored iris line Avers' curving lanes.

Van Gogh painted bunches of iris in gardens and in a white pitcher. He stayed in Auvers the last 70 days of his life and made a painting every single day.

Auberge Ravoux was his residence at 3,50 fr a day.

It's been carefully preserved.

Absolutely nothing remains of any of Van Gogh's possessions in his room yet it's a poignant experience to visit. You can watch a short video of his life before entering his room.

Why did I resist the stunning auberge napkins and tablecloth.

Van Gogh egg cup? I would have killed for this combo egg cup/coffee cup, but not for sale.

Off to the chateau for the garden soiree.

Why didn't I buy this little Van Gogh figurine? And I missed visiting Dr Gachet's house and the Absinth museum.

The next day I went to visit the two Van Gogh rooms at musee d'Orsay(Rm.70,71).

And you should too. Visiting the town of Avuers-sue-Oise

Is the perfect introduction to learning to love van Gogh if you not a fan. I have maps of Auvers to send out with the watercolor print if you're so inclined. Do not miss this town either way if you're coming to Paris. Heavenly.