Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
(http://www.vaux-le-vicomte.com) was built by Nicolas Fouquet,
Finance Minister to Louis XIV. To celebrate the completion of
the magnificent chateau, the unfortunate minister invited
His Majesty to a lavish fête that included a display of Chinese
fireworks, bejewelled elephants, a musical composed by
Lully and a play written by Molière. Consumed by jealousy
and anger at the extravagance of his Finance Minister, the
king had Fouquet arrested for embezzlement and sentenced
to life imprisonment. He then proceeded to hire Fouquet's
architect and landscaper to build his Château de Versailles!
Giverny
It's easiest to use one of the tour bus companies mentioned
above to tour the charming home and gardens of Impressionist
painter Claude Monet (http://www.fondation-monet.com),
located some 76 km northwest of Paris. Take time, too, to
visit the Musée d'Art Américain (http://www.maag.org), which
holds a collection of works of American Impressionists, many
of whom studied or resided in France. If you take the train,
it's about an hour from Gare Saint-Lazare to Vernon, where
a bus then takes you to Giverny. Monet's lovely garden and
pond with its Japanese bridge have been immortalised in his
paintings, especially in his paintings of water lilies.
Auvers-sur-Oise
Some 30 km to the northwest of Paris, Auvers-sur-Oise (http://
www.auvers-sur-oise.com) was the final home of Dutch
Impressionist Vincent Van Gogh. Take the train from Gare du
Nord to Cergy-Pontoise, then the local train in the direction
of Creil.
In addition to visiting the Auberge Ravoux where Van
Gogh lived and died, a stroll through the town will provide a
well-documented tour of the buildings that have become so
familiar through Van Gogh's paintings, including the Église
Notre Dame. There are several museums to visit and the
atelier of the painter Daubigny, and you can also walk up the
hill to the cemetery where Van Gogh and his brother Theo
were buried. Linger over lunch at the elegant Hostellerie du
Nord before heading back to Paris.
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