Covering an area of 71,000 hectares, the French Vexin Regional Nature Park spans two departments, Val-d'Oise and Yvelines. Picturesque and authentic, its unspoilt landscapes alternate between woods, forests, meadows, fields, hillside, marshes, rivers and typical villages, and inspired many Impressionist painters such as Van Gogh, Cézanne or Daubigny.
You can also admire its eclectic architectural heritage, made up of châteaux, churches and agricultural estates in a variety of styles. Along the way you'll come across traces of the past, such as mills, fountains, dovecotes and washhouses, some of which are listed on France's inventory of Historic Monuments (Monuments Historiques).
There are also plenty of leisure activities in this characterful area, which earned the "Land of Art and History" ("Pays d'Art et d'Histoire") label in 2014. A wide range of outdoor activities are available, with someone for everyone: walks, bike rides or horse rides, discovering the wildlife and plants, canoeing down the Epte… and even a hot air balloon flight! For hikers, the territory has more than 800 kilometres of marked trails and paths, an excellent way to explore the natural heritage of the French Vexin. Don't forget to visit the Park House (Maison du Parc) in Théméricourt. Based in the elegant Château de Théméricourt and its outbuildings, it offers visitors a tourist information centre, exhibitions and a Museum of the French Vexin dedicated to the natural environments, geology, history and popular arts and traditions of this beautiful part of Val-d'Oise.
In the summer, the boat cruises departing from Auvers-sur-Oise and La Roche-Guyon are an ideal way to see the landscapes that are so highly prized by painters.
