Having marked the centenary of Claude Monet’s passing through 2026, the Normandy and Paris Regions now encourage visitors to travel in the great Impressionist’s footsteps, offering several ideas for short trips relying solely on low-carbon transport. To get closer to the life of the master of Impressionism, what better than exploring the places where he lived and the landscapes that inspired him, at Impressionist pace!
Travelling by train, bike, boat or on foot, these breaks incite you to slow down and enjoy to the full the surroundings that so inspired Monet and his followers as they painted out of doors, en plein air.
Stop to admire specific views, comparing them with specific paintings, photographing them, even sketching them yourself… Visit spots filled with the memories of particular artists… Take the time to set up your own déjeuner sur l’herbe…! These itineraries lasting three to four days combine low-carbon transport with suggestions for places to visit, walks to take and activities to enjoy, all at a gentle pace, to savour to the full Impressionist works and landscapes.
Discover three homes in which Monet lived
Going from Argenteuil to Giverny via Vétheuil, we present two possibilities for trips to go and visit homes in which Monet lived, as well as appreciating the surrounding landscapes that so inspired him, such as the railway bridge at Argenteuil, the church at Vétheuil, or the haystacks and poplars around Giverny.
These two itineraries start from the Paris train station of Gare Saint-Lazare, with Transilien regional rail services taking you to Argenteuil, followed by Mantes-la-Jolie. The hiking trip leads you along the national hiking path, the GR®2, via Vétheuil and Giverny, to Vernon. As to the cycling trip, it follows the cycle path La Seine à Vélo, which also hugs the Seine’s banks.
Dans la lumière des cathédrales
Une autre idée de séjour, entre Paris et Rouen, est inspirée par la série des Cathédrales de Rouen, motif de prédilection chez Monet qui la représentera 30 fois. Ce parcours relie les deux villes en train NOMAD et est ponctué de promenades à pied et en bateau.
Relish Impressionist masterpieces in these cities’ museums, stops in cafés and fine restaurants, and walks through urban quarters that Monet enjoyed depicting time and again. Take in this rich programme at Monet’s pace, focusing on both famous paintings and the very spots that inspired them.
