Saturday morning, 10am. I close the door of my apartment building. This weekend, I'm off to l'Isle-Adam and Auvers-sur-Oise, two pretty villages in the 95 region of France, for a stay in the countryside, with only my backpack and my Navigo passport. I take the RER C towards Pontoise, before transferring to the Transilien line H towards Creil. First stop: l'Isle-Adam-Parmain, a pretty, well-to-do town known for its beach. But that's not all: as a holiday resort for many Parisians, l'Isle-Adam boasts many green spaces: the park of Château Conti with its beautiful building, just outside the station, the banks of the river Oise... Or, just a 25-minute walk away, the famous Chinese Pavilion for which the town is famous. In perfect condition, the building is exceptional, even if you can't visit it from the inside (except on guided tours of the city).
I retrace my steps, pass the Castelrose, a beautiful brick-colored building housing the town hall annex, and discover the interior of the village church.
All the nuggets to discover in l'Isle-Adam are detailed here:
L'Isle-Adam: the green nugget in Ile-de-France, 25 km from Paris
L'Isle-Adam, one of France's most beautiful Detours and a source of inspiration for many a landscape painter, is a veritable green nugget to be discovered just a few kilometers from Paris. On the banks of the River Oise, with its seaside resort and beautiful monuments, this village in the Val d'Oise has plenty to tempt those in search of strolls and discoveries. [Read more]
Hop, I head back towards the station and follow the banks of the Oise to reach Auvers-sur-Oise, just a few kilometers away. Soon I'm skirting fields of corn and sunflowers, still following the course of the river on the towpath. I continue for a few kilometers, before crossing the Mériel mixed-use bridge, to reach the opposite bank and enjoy a prettier view.
About7 kilometers later, or almost 1h40 of walking (taking time for photos and short breaks), I push open the screen door of the GCU Auvers-sur-Oise campsite. Set on the banks of the river, it's the only campsite in the village, and thefriendly atmosphere is particularly enjoyable, even when traveling solo. A camper kindly advises me on the ideal pitch for my little tent, and I'm told how the campsite works together, and where the showers/toilets/sinks are for washing up by hand. Once my tent is set up, I set off to discover the village of Auvers at dusk or, as the Instagrammers would say, "golden hour", when the sky turns orange, giving the village a pastel hue. The church is sumptuous, the village calm and peaceful, there's no doubt about it: this is the countryside.
Ten minutes from the Auvers-sur-Oise train station, not far from the places made famous by Vincent Van Gogh in his paintings, the GCU campsite in Auvers-sur-Oise is the only campsite in the village: family-friendly and on a human scale, discover with us this spot where to spend your week's vacation in the 95! [Read more]
I walk back along the Oise to the sound of the birds, watching the barges gently float down the river. Night has fallen, and there's hardly a sound from the campsite: that's it, it's time for bed.
If there are wake-up calls we hate, the one to the sound ofchurch bellsin Auvers-sur-Oise has the sweet sound of vacation. Eight o'clock sharp, already up and, above all, in great shape: contrary to what you might think, nights on campsites are soothing, noise-free, unlike our Parisian nights. This morning, it's off to theTourist Office as soon as it opens, to pick up the free map of the Impressionist Trail, which offers an itinerary for strolling around the city. From the cemetery where Van Gogh was laid to rest, via the Auvers church, thetown hall and theAuberge Ravoux (where Van Gogh died), to the places that inspired the Impressionist painters who came to the Oise valley with their easels... The tour is truly comprehensive, with explanations of the customs of the period. At theAuberge Ravoux, the room where Van Gogh died is still in its original state, exchanged since that day: you can visit it for €6 per person.
If you have the energy, take the time to do the whole route (I only missed numbers 18 and 19 on the map), bringing a picnic for the road, because the walk is well worth the detour, and it's also an opportunity to discover the little villages around Auvers and their fairytale castle-like houses. If you had to visit a museum, I'd recommend the Musée Atelier Daubigny, because, much to my chagrin, the Maison du Docteur Gachet (a well-known art collector in the village) was closed for renovation.
Back at the campsite, I pack up my aunt and head back along the banks of the Oise, this time to the Auvers-sur-Oise train station (well, the Valmondois station, 30 minutes away due to summer roadworks, but if you don't want to walk, there are connecting buses) and back to Paris.
L'Isle-Adam: the green nugget in Ile-de-France, 25 km from Paris
GCU Auvers-sur-Oise, the friendly, participative campsite in the famous Val-d'Oise village
