Gravesites of Vincent and Theo Van Gogh 

When we traveled as a family, we would try to find places that would spark the interests of our daughters. During a vacation in Paris, one of these special excursions was a train ride to the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, where Vincent Van Gogh spent the final weeks of his life and created many of his most famous paintings using the landscapes of this region as his inspiration.

Our visit allowed us to step into Van Gogh’s world. We toured the Auberge Raoux, where he rented a tiny room during the last months of his life, and walked the roads and paths that wind through the wheat fields and countryside he painted so often. Hearing the story of his time here brought a new appreciation for the extraordinary burst of creativity that marked the final ten weeks of his life. Under the care of Dr. Paul Gachet, Van Gogh completed more than seventy paintings during this brief period, capturing the beauty of the surrounding fields, cottages and village streets.

Our visit included visiting the simple graves of Vincent and his brother, Theo van Gogh. Covered with ivy and resting side by side, the modest stones reflect the bond between two brothers. Theo had supported Vincent emotionally and financially throughout his life, and in 1914 his widow arranged for Theo’s remains to be moved to Auvers so that the brothers could rest together.

The visit to Auvers-sur-Oise was about much more than art. It was about understanding the man behind the masterpieces and sharing the story with our daughters. Walking the same roads, seeing the same fields, and hearing the story of Van Gogh’s struggles and triumphs made this one of the most memorable experiences of our travels in France. Sometime our greatest lessons are found in the lives and stories of those who shaped our world through their gifts and their humanity.