Auvers-sur-Oise · room n° 5 · last stay

Auberge Ravoux, Van Gogh's House in Auvers: room, history and visit

A few steps from the town hall of Auvers-sur-Oise, a small empty attic preserves the memory of Vincent van Gogh's last 70 days. He arrived there on May 20, 1890, painted with exceptional intensity and died there on July 29, watched over by his brother Theo.

This guide distinguishes what we actually visit, what has been restored, what is historical narrative and what the paintings still allow us to see in the village.

Room number 5 by Vincent van Gogh at the Auberge Ravoux
Room n° 5. A 7 m² attic, lit by a skylight, which remained deliberately empty: no relic, but a historic space to feel.
May 20, 1890arrival in Auvers
70 dayslast stay
7 m²room n°5
74 tablespainted in Auvers
30 mins 30 minsvisit + screening

Quick response

Why is Auberge Ravoux an essential place?

Because it connects an intact material space to a dizzying artistic production. Van Gogh does not lock himself in: he goes to paint at dawn, returns for lunch, sometimes works in the back room and crosses Auvers every day. The room gives the scale of his life; the paintings give the breadth of his gaze.

01

A real room

Attic n° 5 measures approximately 7 m² and was never re-rented after Vincent's death.

02

A very short stay

From May 20 to July 29, 1890: only 70 days, but 74 paintings and numerous drawings.

03

A living inn

The place retains its dual vocation: historic house, visitable room and inn linked to conviviality.

04

A painted village

Town hall, church, stairs, houses, gardens and fields are located around Van Gogh's House.

Not to be confused: auvers' room is not the famous one Room in Arles painted in colors. At the Auberge Ravoux, Van Gogh left no known paintings representing his attic.

The bedroom

Seven square meters, a skylight and no spectacular decor

The strength of the place comes precisely from its simplicity. Room n° 5 is a small room in the attic, accessible by a narrow staircase. After Van Gogh's death, it was no longer re-rented, the superstition attached to the "suicide's room" paradoxically contributing to its preservation.

What we see

An empty play, not a theatrical reenactment

The visitor finds neither supposedly authentic bed, nor easel, nor palette. The official website insists on this choice: there is "nothing to see", in the sense of a collection of objects, but a volume, a light and a proximity to history.

The neighboring room, n° 6, was occupied by the painter Anton Hirschig. Its simple furniture allows us to evoke the material conditions of an artist at the end of the 19th century without transforming Vincent's room into an invented decor.

The guided tour continues with an audiovisual presentation devoted to the works, letters and photographs of the stay in Auvers.

Why is emptiness right: it prevents us from confusing memory and relic. The small size, the slope of the roof and the skylight are enough to make us understand the precariousness of housing.
Real interior of Van Gogh's room at the Auberge Ravoux
Actual photo of the room. Credit: WvdV, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY busSA 3.0.

Timeline

From May 20 to July 30, 1890

The story of the Auberge Ravoux must remain precise: an arrival chosen for reasons of cost and proximity to Doctor Gachet, a life of work regulated, then a drama whose circumstances continue to be discussed.

may 20

Installation

Van Gogh first arrives from Paris, rents the room for 1 franc per day and takes board for 3.50 francs with meals.

May -July

Work rhythm

He gets up early, goes to paint, comes back for lunch at noon and sometimes works in the back room reserved for artists.

july 27

Injury

According to the historical account of the place, he returned to the inn seriously injured by gunfire after going out into the countryside.

july 29

Death of Vincent

Doctor Gachet and Theo go to his bedside. Vincent died in the night, at 1:30 a.m., at thirty-seven years old.

july 30

Funeral

The coffin is surrounded by paintings in the inn, then the procession reaches the Auvers cemetery.

Historical nuance: the absence of a direct witness to the shooting gave rise to alternative hypotheses. Official sources from the Auberge and the Musée d'Orsay still present death as the result of a self-inflicted injury; the article does not turn modern controversy into certainty.

Real photos

The Ravoux Inn yesterday and today

They show the current facade, the room, the plaque and a historical view of the inn around 1890.

Current facade of the Auberge Ravoux in Auvers-sur-Oise
Real photo · 2021

Van Gogh's House on the square

The facade of the inn remains immediately identifiable in the heart of Auvers-sur-Oise.

Chabe01, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY wagsa 4.0.
Auberge Ravoux, Van Gogh's House in Auvers-sur-Oise
Real photo

An inn, not a mausoleum

The place retains a familiar scale: café, tables, village facade and rooms under the roof.

Wikimedia Commons, free license indicated on the source page.
Room number 5 of Van Gogh at the Auberge Ravoux
Real photo

The empty attic

The skylight, the slope of the roof and the bare walls give the physical measure of the last accommodation.

WvdV, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY wagSA 3.0.
Commemorative plaque by Vincent van Gogh on the Auberge Ravoux
Memory of the place

The commemorative plaque

She recalls that Vincent lived in this house and died there on July 29, 1890.

Wikimedia Commons, free image.
Historical photograph of the Auberge Ravoux around 1890
Archive around 1890

The facade in Vincent's time

This small old photograph helps measure the continuity of the building and the urban fabric.

Author unknown, public domain, Wikimedia Commons.

Auvers Gallery

Twelve paintings to extend the visit

Van Gogh painted portraits, gardens, houses, stairs and especially landscapes in horizontal format in Auvers. Each work should not be read as an omen of death: the period also contains ambitious, decorative and very constructed research.

The Church of Auvers-sur-Oise - Vincent van Gogh image 1 artisanal reproduction of a painting
Around June 1890

The Church Auvers-sur-Oise

The church becomes an unstable architecture, surrounded by blue, before which the paths separate.

Auvers-sur-Oise Town Hall on July 14 - Vincent van Gogh image 1 painting painted in oil on canvas
Town Hall Square

Auvers Town Hall on July 14

The motif is almost in front of the inn: a proximity painting, linked to Vincent's daily life.

Portrait of Adeline Ravoux - Vincent van Gogh image 1 copy hand painted in oil
Ravoux family

Portrait of Adeline Ravoux

The thirteen-year-old daughter of the innkeepers becomes one of the faces most directly linked to the last stay.

Portrait of Doctor Gachet - Vincent van Gogh
Doctor and friend

Portrait of Doctor Gachet

The melancholic pose and the digital condense the complex relationship between the painter and his doctor.

The Garden of Doctor Gachet in Auvers - Vincent van Gogh image 1 artisanal reproduction of a painting
Gachet House

The Garden of Doctor Gachet

A dense garden where vegetation, care, sociability and painting meet.

L'Escalier d'Auvers - Vincent van Gogh image 1 copy hand painted in oil
Village

The Auvers Staircase

The passages, walls and stairs transform the village into a network of living diagonals.

Chaumières in Auvers-sur-Oise - Vincent van Gogh image 1 reproduction of oil painting
Rural architecture

Cottages in Auvers

Roofs undulate like the ground: the house is no longer a stable volume, but an organic matter.

Les Vessenots in Auvers - Vincent van Gogh image 1 painting painted in oil on canvas
Auvers Plain

Les Vessenots in Auvers

A tense panorama between compact houses, strips of fields and horizontal rhythm.

Wheat fields with Auvers in the background - Vincent van Gogh image 1 artisanal reproduction of painting
Double square

Wheat fields with Auvers in the background

The elongated format widens the field of vision and places the village at the edge of the landscape.

Wheat field with crows - Vincent van Gogh image 1 oil painted painting on canvas
July 1890

Wheat field with crows

Dark skies, divergent routes and black flight: a powerful image, but not certain proof of a "last painting".

Daubigny's garden - Vincent van Gogh image 1 copy hand painted in oil
Tribute to Daubigny

The Daubigny Garden

The garden of the admired painter becomes one of the great decorative panoramas of recent weeks.

Tree roots - Vincent van Gogh image 1 reproduction of oil painting
July 27, 1890

Tree roots

Often considered the last work worked on, this tight surface seems to abolish the horizon.

The "double square" format: thirteen paintings by Auvers adopt a very elongated format, close to 50 × 100 cm. This voluntary choice transforms the landscape into a frieze and forces the eye to circulate laterally.

Around the Inn

A Van Gogh route on foot in Auvers-sur-Oise

Auberge Ravoux functions as an excellent starting point. In half a day, several painted patterns can be connected; one day allows you to add Doctor Gachet's house, the castle, the Daubigny museum and the paths of the fields.

Step Why stop Work to bring together Indicative time
1. Auberge Ravoux Room n° 5, history of the last stay and screening. Portraits of Adeline Ravoux. 30 to 45 mins
2. Town Hall The building is almost opposite the hostel. Auvers Town Hall on July 14. 5 mins
3. Church of Auvers Compare the real building to pictorial distortions. The Church Auvers-sur-Oise. 15 min walk
4. Cemetery See the simple, twin tombs of Vincent and Theo. Fields, roads and panoramas of Auvers. 10 mins from church
5. House of Dr. Gachet Garden, medicine, engraving and artistic sociability. Portrait of Dr Gachet, Marguerite and garden. 20 to 30 mins
6. Fields and paths Find horizons, roads and panoramas. Wheat field with crows, double square panoramas. 45 min to 1 hour

Information 2026

Times, prices and progress of the visit

The information below corresponds to the 2026 season published by the official website. Check before you leave, especially for public holidays, group visits and catering.

Information Detail 2026 Counseling
Season From March 4 to November 22, 2026. Outside of this period, do not assume that the room is accessible.
Days Wednesday to Sunday; usual closure Monday and Tuesday. Exceptional openings announced for Easter and Pentecost.
Bedroom 9:30 a.m. - 12:15 p.m., last visit 11:45 a.m.; 1:15 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., last visit 6 p.m. Arrive before the last visit and plan to wait in peak season.
Duration Guided tour + screening: approximately 30 minutes, group of 20 people. The room is small: the number of visitors is naturally limited.
Rates Adult €10; reduced and 12 -17 years €8; under 12 years free. Check the exact conditions and supporting documents on the official website.
Hostel Wednesday to Sunday, 12 p.m. - 6:30 p.m., last order 6 p.m. The table and the room have separate times.
Address Place de la Mairie, 52 -56 rue du Général-de-Gaulle, 95430 Auvers-sur-Oise. Auvers station allows a car-free visit depending on the trains of the day.
Reservation: groups are accepted by reservation only. For an individual visit, consult the official website the same day to confirm schedules and possible closures.

Official information

FAQs

Frequently asked questions about Auberge Ravoux

The essential answers for visiting Van Gogh's House without confusing it with a museum of originals or with the painted room in Arles.

Can we visit Van Gogh's room in Auvers?

Yes, during the opening season. The guided tour of the room is followed by a screening and lasts approximately 30 minutes.

Does the room contain items that belonged to Van Gogh?

No. Room n° 5 is deliberately empty. Its value lies in the preserved volume, the skylight and the history of the place, not in a reconstruction loaded with relics.

How long did Van Gogh live at Auberge Ravoux?

From May 20 to July 29, 1890, approximately 70 days.

Did Van Gogh paint his room in Auvers?

No known painting represents this attic. The famous Van Gogh's room shows his accommodation at the Maison jaune in Arles.

How many paintings did he paint in Auvers?

The Musée d'Orsay selected 74 paintings during the 70 days of Auvers, to which were added drawings and etching.

Did Van Gogh die in the inn?

Yes. Seriously injured on July 27, he died in his room on the night of July 28 to 29, 1890, in the presence of Theo.

Is the hostel still a restaurant?

The place maintains an inn activity and offers catering according to the times and procedures published on the official website.

Conclusion

The Auberge Ravoux is a tiny place to understand an immense work.

The empty room gives the scale of man; Auvers gives the scale of his work. When leaving, you have to look at the town hall, the church, the stairs, the gardens and the fields: this is where the last 70 days become painting again.

Explore the Van Gogh collection in Auvers

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