Day Trip to Auvers-sur-Oise

With CUPA, students took a day trip to Auvers-sur-Oise to discover a quaint and historically rich town, a short hour northwest of Paris. The town is known for its history with impressionist artists, most notably Vincent van Gogh.

We started with a guided tour that uncovered van Gogh’s various inspirations for some of his later work, including L’Église d’Auvers-sur-Oise and Champs de blé sous les nuages.

For lunch, students enjoyed various dishes, such as dos de cabillaud, pavé de veau, tartare de saumon, tataki de boeuf, with a glass of wine, dessert, and a warm drink to digest the meal.

Students then had a few hours free to explore Auvers—armed with a few CUPA suggestions: van Gogh’s house, the town castle, the Absinthe museum, a walking path through nature—before taking the train back home to Paris.

Students may read about Vincent van Gogh and other impressionist artists in class; they may see the paintings in various Parisian museums, but experiencing firsthand the landscape and environment that inspired such art is truly a moving experience our students thoroughly enjoyed.