Explore Rouen, a veritable open-air studio for Impressionist artists

A vast open-air studio for the most famous of Impressionist painters, Rouen and the Seine Valley around it can now provide you with an unforgettable Impressionist adventure. Like Monet, marvel at Rouen Cathedral and the way its façade changes in different lights. Like Pissarro and Sisley, admire the history-packed lanes, the magical river and the picturesque villages beside the Seine. Between 1892 and 1893, Claude Monet stayed more and more frequently in Rouen. The artist discovered the town’s artistic potential, especially with its cathedral, whose beauty entranced him. He unearthed a small studio for rent, right opposite the mighty building. From there, he had an unbeatable view of the great religious edifice.
Monet painted an extensive series, comprising some 30 canvases, with Rouen’s Notre-Dame Cathedral as the subject. Today, these works are dispersed around the world. In the post-Impressionist period, a prestigious school of painting opened in town, the Ecole de Rouen. Here, renowned artists were trained, such as Lebourg, Angrand and Delattre, adopting the Seine, its banks and meanders, with their ever-changing, misty atmosphere, as their favourite subject, depicting these obsessively.

What to see and do

around Rouen and the Seine’s Meanders

Filter Categories
Tout
Unmissable
Routes & Inspirations
Filter Categories
Tout
Unmissable
Routes & Inspirations
Filter Categories
Tout
Museums & sites
Activities & Experiences
Trails & walks

Interactive
map

Explore Impressionist Rouen and the Seine’s Meanders thanks to our interactive map!

Inspiring
moments

Head up to the top of the Côte Sainte-Catherine above Rouen at sunrise or sunset. Scan the horizon, taking in the Seine, its bridges, Rouen’s church towers and other elements that stand out in this urban landscape that would encourage the creation of many an Impressionist masterpiece. rouentourisme.com

From Sahurs, take the little ferry to cross the Seine for La Bouille, following in Sisley’s tracks. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of this charming village and have a good look around the art galleries lined along the quay and down the lanes. Free crossing every 20 mins or so during the day.

All events