Of course there is more to Auvers-sur-Oise than Van Gogh. When we arrived and were walking toward the Inn, we saw a market and, as you would realise by now, markets in France are irresistible. This one was particularly so because it was a "small town" market.
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| The Market |
One of the stalls in the market, a butcher's stall, was a horsemeat boucherie. Apparently there is still enough demand here for it. It is slightly sweet, tender, low in fat, and high in protein. In fact, looking at it it looks very much like Kangaroo meat.
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| Horse Meat Stall |
In the specialized shops, you can purchase horse sausage, joints for roasting, and filet steaks, but one of the biggest seller is minced horsemeat, to be eaten raw as steak tartare. Few restaurants seem to have it on the menu these days although some cafés will do a horse-meat burger for you.
Of course, in addition to the boucheries chavaline, there are the lovely vegetable stalls and the wonderful fresh fish places. Why anyone would buy fish at a grocery store when they can buy it fresh off the ice is a constant source of amazement.
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| Fresh Fish |
Of course, if horse is asking too much of one, there is always chicken for the faint of heart. Just in front of the market rotisseries are set up and the young men in charge of them are doing a good business selling the wonderful smelling birds.
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| Roasting Chickens |
Just past the market and on the other side of the road is the Hotel de Ville, looking exactly like it did when Van Gogh painted it.
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| Van Gogh's painting |
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| Hotel de Ville today |
Auvers is a lovely town and one in which one sees the famous Van Gogh Irises everywhere. But not to be outdone are the roses which are equally ubiquitous. If you are in Paris, Auvers is not a place to be missed.
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| Irises |
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| Roses |
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