Paris makes an unmissable stop on any Impressionist adventure. In 1859, Claude Monet arrived in the French capital, which he described as ‘‘head-spinning Paris’’. Napoleon III had indeed ordered colossal works, directed by Baron Haussmann, to beautify the city. The transformations caused a great shake-up for the inhabitants’ lives and, in particular, their forms of recreation. Cafés with live music, dance halls, circuses, opera houses, parks and gardens, racecourses… all grew in number. The Impressionists enjoyed frequenting all these places. Manet, Monet, Degas, Renoir, Pissarro, Caillebotte… they were all passionate about the city and its exciting new life, offering them such a variety of themes to depict.Today, Paris boasts the largest collection of Impressionist paintings in the world, including an exceptional ensemble of works by Claude Monet. Paris is also packed with evocative places that recall Impressionist times, encouraging you to explore them. A trip up Montmartre’s hill is a must. History-filled squares, cafés and night spots still reflect the joie de vivre and liveliness of the Impressionist period!