This drive takes you along the valley of the River Oise in the footsteps of the Impressionist painters who immortalised the little town of Auvers-sur-Oise.

Start from Porte de Clichy and drive north to Cergy-Pontoise (A15) and leave at exit 9 to Pontoise.

Camille Pissarro worked in Pontoise between 1872 and 1884; housed in a large house overlooking the river, the Musée Camille Pissarro contains works by the artist and some of his contemporaries.

Continue northeast along the D4 to Auvers-sur-Oise.

Several Impressionist painters settled here in the 1870s encouraged by Doctor Gachet, himself an amateur painter: Corot, Cézanne, Renoir and above all Van Gogh, whose painting of the village church has acquired world-wide fame. He died in the local inn, known as the Auberge Ravoux, and is buried in the cemetery, next to his brother Theo.

Cross the river and drive north along the D922 to L'Isle-Adam.

From the old bridge, there are lovely views of the river and its pleasure boats; on the way out towards Beaumont, have a look at the 18th-century Chinese folly, known as the Pavillon Cassan.

Follow the D922 to Viarmes and turn left on the D909 to the Abbaye de Royaumont.

Founded by St-Louis in 1228, this is the best preserved Cistercian abbey in the Ile de France.

Turn back. The D909 joins the N1 which takes you back to Porte de la Chapelle and the boulevard périphérique.