7 Properties for sale in Val-d'Oise, Paris - Île-de-France, France

Situated to the north of the centre of Paris, the department of Val d'Oise benefits from local environment policies which have seen it preserve its parkland landscapes. With two regional natural parks, Vexin Français and Oise, as well as three national forests and chalky cliffs overlooking the Seine which runs through it, the department is a wonderful place in which to escape the noise of the city. Inspired by the setting, many artists took up residency here including Van Gogh, Daubigny and Rousseau, and one way of exploring the area is to follow the artists' trail to no fewer than 42 galleries and museums. The River Oise runs through 20 towns in the department, of which l'Isle-Adam, Auvers-sur-Oise and Pontoise are of particular note. Perhaps the prettiest village of them all, however, is La Roche-Guyon and its imposing castle, which is nestled in a meander of the River Seine and has been awarded with the Plus Beaux Villages de France label.