This is the only site in the world where you can walk into a Van Gogh painting.
On July 27, 1890, Vincent van Gogh painted Tree Roots, his very last work. Just hours later, he climbed the hillside above this exact spot and attempted to end his life. He died two days later.
Today, the slope and roots still exist. A narrow dirt path climbs up through the very landscape of the painting. Visitors can stand at the painter’s viewpoint, touch the roots, and walk a trail marked by 12 quiet narrative stops, forming a poetic ascent — from the roots to the final wheatfield.
Why is it special?
- Not a museum. No ticket booth, no walls.
- No reproduction of the painting: the real roots are still there, alive.
- Visitors describe it as a “pilgrimage,” an “invisible museum,” or a “soulful walk.”
- The path is not advertised or promoted by the city. It is maintained by a private association.
- We are the Association for the Protection of the Roots Site, and a recognised member of the Van Gogh Europe Foundation.
Experience
- 12 audio stops in several languages (FR / EN / CN / JP / ES/DUTCH/Japanese/corean/spanish/italian/)
- A calm, contemplative walk through nature, lasting about 25 minutes
- A minimal presence, limited number of visitors (reservation encouraged)
- Available as a standalone visit or with intimate guided tours
Location
46 rue Daubigny, 95430 Auvers-sur-Oise, France
30 minutes from Paris by train
Short walk from the famous Auberge Ravoux where Van Gogh spent his last days
