Maubuisson Abbey and Pontoise, starting from Auvers-sur-Oise

Start from the station car park, between the two bridges, behind the station. Access at the corner of Rue Montmaur.

(S/E) At the end of Rue Montmaur, turn right, cross the bridge over the Oise and, immediately afterwards, turn right and follow the riverbank. Continue along the Oise on the path, which becomes a dirt track, and take the^first street on the left.

(1) Follow this up, Rue de l’Oise, then, at the ‘No Entry’ sign 50 metres on, turn right onto Rue Raymond Oudoux, and continue to the roundabout.

(2) Turn right onto Rue Lamartine and, after the school, carry on straight ahead along a quieter, parallel path.
At the hamlet of Vaux, turn left onto Chemin de Vaux à Épluches, then head down to the right onto Rue des Préaux, which becomes a track.

(3) After the small bridge, walk along the left-hand side of the stream and rejoin the small road on the right. Cross the junction carefully and head straight ahead.
At the next junction, head up to the left along the side lane and turn right, opposite No. 17, onto the path which becomes Rue des Grandes Côtes.

(4) At the end of this, head down to the right onto Rue des Sablons; at the bottom, turn right again onto Rue de France, then left onto Rue Robert Debré, taking the parallel path to the railway bridge. Then continue straight on along Rue de la Chapelle, then turn right onto Rue de la Rivière. Cross the boulevard carefully (watch out for lorries) and take the small path opposite which leads to the River Oise.

(5) Follow the towpath to the left; after the warehouses, you’ll come to a marked track. About 1 km further on, between the golf course and the stadium, take a small path on the left (marked red/yellow).

(6) At the traffic lights, head straight ahead onto Chaussée de Maubuisson. Cross a road and, just before the ‘Stop’ sign, turn left onto Sente de la Mortagne; at the stream, turn right and go under the railway bridge.

(7) As you come out from under the bridge, turn immediately right at the hedge and then left a little further on. Go through the gate, walking alongside the Grange aux Dimes, then enter the park and walk round it on the right-hand side.

(7) Exit via the same point, head straight on to the small gate and go under the bridge again. Continue along the stream until you reach the road.

(8) At the end of the Allée de l’Abbaye, cross at the traffic lights and head straight ahead to take the cycle path on the left, arriving at the junction you’ve already passed after the golf course.

(6) Turn right onto Chemin du Pothuis and head towards the River Oise. Continue to the left and reach the next bridge via the access ramp.

(9) Cross the bridge over the River Oise and, at the traffic lights, turn right onto Quai du Pothuis. About 400 metres further on, follow the cycle path along the verge.

(10) Between numbers 27 and 37, dismount and cross to the other side of the road to take the Sente des Pommiers. This path leads onto a street; follow Rue Vaugeroux, Rue des Coteaux and Rue Schmitz in succession to return to Auvers-sur-Oise.

(11) At the end of Rue des Schmitz, at the wayside cross, turn left, then immediately right onto Rue des Roches, continuing on to Rue Simone Le Danois. At the top of the hill, turn right onto Rue des Ruelles and, 200 metres further on, turn right onto Rue de Chaponval.

(12) Follow this street downhill, cross the D4 and then the level crossing. Join Rue des Marollet on the left, then continue along Rue des Granges and carry on to the end of Rue des Gords.

(13) Turn left and follow Rue Eugène Lefebvre. Cross the railway line and turn right onto Rue Van Gogh, then left at No. 10 onto Rue Frédéric Fabre. Walk between a shed and a wall and, a few metres further on, turn right onto the unpaved road. Continue along the tarmac road, Rue Eugène Fauquert, then ignore the Sente de la Ravine des Ponceaux on your left and turn left. Walk a few metres and take the alley just before No. 12 (the war memorial is a little further on).

(14) Continue to the right for a few metres, enter the town hall square, and walk along the right-hand side of it. Facing the railway line, turn left, walk past the station, then turn right onto the D928. Cross the bridge over the tracks and turn right onto Rue Montmaur, then immediately right again to reach the car park (S/E).

Auvers: all shops.
Maubuisson Abbey; toilets.
Pontoise Bridge and quays: take care.

At the (3), at the end of the wall, note an engraving left by what is thought to be an American soldier in 1944.
Auvers-sur-Oise: a tourist town, tourist information centre: Van Gogh Park.
Auvers-sur-Oise Tourism.
Town of Auvers-sur-Oise.