Château d’Auvers: Throwing new light on impressionist landscapes

Just as artists such as Monet and Renoir captured fleeting moments with small, deft brushstrokes, each movement in the ‘Impressionist Vision’ digital experience is brought to life at the Château d’Auvers. Set in one of the most picturesque castles in the Giverny region, it provides the perfect backdrop to a series of innovative exhibitions inspired by nature.

It’s no secret that gardens were central to the Impressionists’ love affair with the natural world. The way the light hit each ornate pond, or each flower in bloom, made for some of the most iconic Impressionist works to date. The Château d’Auvers plunges visitors, both indoors and outdoors, into a corner of their world. Located just 30 minutes outside of Paris and 25 minutes from Roissy-Charles de Gaulle airport, there are eight hectares of gardens, ponds and fountains to explore; alongside a picturesque orangery and courtyard.

Every detail of this fine estate is a meeting point of artistic ideas. The geometric gardens are a unique blend of English, French and Italianate design; and its 17^th-century nymphaeum a tranquil water feature that has stood the test of time.

In fact, the chateau itself served as a holiday resort for painters seeking inspiration in the surrounding landscape: “Vincent Van Gogh spent the remaining 70 days of his life in Auvers-sur-Oise,” reveals Delphine Travers, director of the Château d’Auvers.

Dive head-first into the world of Impressionism

Watch the magic of Impressionism unfold into a digital masterpiece – inside one of the most breathtaking castles in the Giverny region. The chateau invites visitors to immerse themselves in the ‘Impressionist Vision’ experience; a multimedia journey through the stages of Impressionism. With light projections, mappings, morphings and giant screens, visitors are taken on an emotional and sensory experience like no other. The exhibition showcases the influence of Impressionism upon the village of Auvers-sur-Oise, as well as the artists’ work, alongside later movements such as Proto Cubism, Fauvism and abstraction.

Virtual reality in full bloom

In the Giverny region, the artistic potential of the flower is undeniable, and the chateau itself is home to an oasis of irises, clematises and roses. From 22 until 24 May 2020, visitors can witness flowers come alive at the Fleuramour Festival of Arts and Plants. Walk among more than 140,000 flowers into a fantasy world of petals and pollen, all within the setting of an enchanting French garden. Each one of the flowers has been incorporated into a series of creations to compel and excite.

Photography inspired by humans and nature

The chateau also pays tribute to a number of contemporary artists that are continually inspired by the natural world, such as photographer, Nils-Udo. From the Creuse Valley to the ponds of the Chateau d’Auvers, Udo’s photography perfectly captures the ephemeral nature of light just as his Impressionist predecessors once did. Set in the chateau orangery, his upcoming photography exhibition will take place between 7 March and 24 May 2020.

From the Impressionists, to the Post-Pictorialists

Head to the chateau during the summer months, and witness the evolution of Impressionism across a series of contemporary pieces. From 6 June to 26 July 2020, the chateau will exhibit the work of Tony Soulié, a famous pioneer of the French Pictorialism movement and descendent of Impressionism. Visitors can wander the chateau and admire his bold and flowery prints, alongside a number of other paintings. At the Château d’Auvers-sur-Oise, you’re sure to pass the time as the Impressionists once did – one brush stroke at a time.

Bookings can be made online, where it is also possible to reserve the Orangery and Atelier for a private function.

www.chateau-auvers.fr