Step 2: The Dr. Gachet House
In this house perched on the heights of Auvers, you can discover the private world of Dr. Gachet, a friend, collector, and supporter of Van Gogh. The gardens, studio, and artworks recreate the artistic atmosphere of the late 19th century, right in the heart of the Impressionist landscapes he frequented.
30-minute tour, free admission
If the walls of this building, nestled in Auvers-sur-Oise in the heart of a lush garden, could talk… Behind its imposing white facade, the house of Dr. Gachet still hums with the artistic discussions that took place there starting in 1872, the year the doctor, a fervent art lover, became its owner. This place welcomed the great masters of Impressionism—Cézanne, Pissarro, and Guillaumin—and later Van Gogh.
It was in 1890, at Pissarro's request, that Dr. Gachet welcomed Van Gogh to Auvers upon his return from the south of France, where he had been institutionalized. The artist would go on to paint three portraits of the doctor, including the famous "Portrait of Dr. Gachet" exhibited at the Musée d’Orsay.
Owned by the Val d’Oise Departmental Council, this superb country house, listed as a supplementary historic monument since 1991 and opened to the public in 2003 for the 150th anniversary of Van Gogh's birth, has retained its authentic decor.
In the intimacy of the painters
As you wander through, you will discover remarkably preserved period objects, such as the impressive apothecary jars where Dr. Gachet kept his pigments and his hand press.
Be sure to visit the troglodyte studio before strolling through the house's garden. You can see, among other things, the vermilion table immortalized by the painter in his portraits of Dr. Gachet. As a collector, the doctor acquired several of the artist's canvases, which are now held at the Musée d’Orsay.
Note: the ivy surrounding the graves of Vincent van Gogh and his brother Theo, who rest in the village cemetery, comes from Dr. Gachet’s property.
Discover the Dr. Gachet House through one of the scavenger hunts on the Paris Region Aventures app, specially designed for families and available as a free download.
Accessibility
Not wheelchair accessible
Price
Free for visitors with disabilities +1 companion