The Normandy of the Impressionists :
Giverny
It was in 1883 that Claude Monet took up residence in Giverny where he painted tirelessly for the next 43 years. You can visit the house of the renowned Master of Impressionism, a painter-gardener who created his famous gardens there: the Clos Normand flower-filled garden, the Oriental water garden with a Japanese bridge and water lily pond. They were to provide the artist with his inspiration and appear in many of his masterpieces. The American Museum of Art is a stone’s throw from the house and you can go there to see one of Monet’s famous paintings of water lilies as well as a large collection of works by different Impressionist painters of that period.
Fécamp
Many painters including MORISOT, SCHUFFENECKER and MONET took their easels to this part of the cliff 110 metres above sea level, the highest point on the whole coastline. MONET stayed there and created 22 paintings, one of which is on exhibition at the Museum of Fine Arts in Le Havre. Another place not to be missed is the Musée des Arts et de l’Enfance (arts and childhood) next to the Town Hall and the Museum of Terre-Neuvas which is near the sea front.
Honfleur
At the age of sixteen MONET met Eugène BOUDIN, a native of Honfleur who introduced him to JONGKIND. He went on to paint with both of them. In the course of his studies MONET also met COURBET, COROT, SISLEY, PISSAROT, RENOIR. He took them to Honfleur, and in particular to the “La Côte de Grâce”. On this promontory, they devoted themselves to painting the colours of the bay which earned them the soubriquet of painters of the estuary. Today a large number of works can be found at the Eugène BOUDIN Museum next to Place Eric SATIE.
Le Havre
Often referred to as the “Nice of Le Havre”, this was the seaside resort of Parisians in the 19th century and also the place of residence of MONET who stayed there with his aunt and where he painted many canvases. You will find some of them at the MALRAUX Museum near the traffic lights which houses a fine collection of paintings by Impressionist painters such as: BOUDIN, COURBET, COROT, SISLEY, PISSAROT, RENOIR as well as by Fauvist painters from the area such as: DUFY, DUBUFFET, FRIESZ.
Rouen
Over two winters, Monet rented an apartment across from the cathedral and he painted its facade forty times at different times of the day to capture the variations in the light throughout the day; he also painted different streets. Near Verdrel square in the Fine Art Museum you can enjoy a magnificent collection generously donated by François Depeaux , and in particular Rouen cathedral, the West Portal, Dull Weather by Claude Monet.
The Normandy of the Impressionists : nearby Relais & Chateaux properties
La Chaumière
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
“It is easier to get to heaven from a cottage than from a palace” wrote Saint Francis of Assisi. You will agree with him once you have set foot here in “God’s little acre”. Exceptional seafood cuisine, sunsets beneath your window that set the ocean alight and the little port of Honfleur just steps away… For those who love long horseback rides and romantic interludes. ...Read more
France, Honfleur
Restaurant Gill
Restaurant of a Grand Chef Relais & Châteaux in town
Gilles Tournadre was born in Normandy and has remained faithful to his region. This progressive chef knows everything there is to know about the culinary traditions of his part of the world and adds his personal touch to the local style, such as his version of the traditional Normandy pressed duck recipe. Here the classics are joyfully reinterpreted and given a new twist.
A staunch defender of top-quality products, he will always prefer to serve
“a fresh line-caught whiting brought to shore by a little fishing boat rather than an imported turbot”. And what can we say other than… he’s right! ...Read more
France, Rouen
Le Clos
Hotel and restaurant in a village
Made famous by the Hundred Years’ War and the famous battle of Verneuil, the town of Verneuil-sur-Avre is today the ideal place to relax... in peace. In February 2010 it was awarded the label of one of the “100 most beautiful destinations in France”. In English hands for some time, the city was re-conquered in 1449 by the French. This small château has retained some of its English charm with its spacious lawns with their straight lines and its centuries-old proudly pruned trees. One hundred years, that’s the time you would like to spend in this romantic residence tucked away close to the regional nature reserve of Perche. Don’t miss the wonderful wine cellar and collection of Calvados. ...Read more
France, Verneuil-sur-Avre
La Ferme Saint-Siméon
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront
It was with this remark that the painter Eugène Boudin expressed his love for this place in one of his notebooks. With its bucolic charm and its washed-out light effects, the Saint-Siméon farm was one of the favourite refuges of the Impressionists. Monet and Courbet came in search of their colours. The poet Baudelaire also came here in search of inspiration abandoning the melancholy of Paris for the little port of Honfleur. Now restored, the premises today offer spa and beauty treatments worthy of the Roman thermal baths. “Oh Saint-Siméon!”, how hard it is to leave… ...Read more
France, Honfleur
Manoir des Saules
Hotel and restaurant in a village
Formerly an inn, at one time a grocery, and then a country delicatessen… This ancient Normandy manor house has already lived several lives. Today it is an intimate hideaway, romantic down to the finest detail. Prepare yourself to fall in love under the willows… Not far from Trouville and Honfleur, this is the ideal starting point for sampling the best that the region has to offer. ...Read more
France, La Saussaye
