From Paris to Honfleur, following in the footsteps of the great Impressionists

It is on the aptly named île des Impressionnistes, in Chatou, that you will find the Musée Fournaise. Located on the banks of the Seine, this famous guinguette, or tavern, was depicted by Renoir in his famous Déjeuner des canotiers (1880). At that time, Maupassant, Degas, Monet and Caillebote all frequented this welcoming destination. The property now houses a museum that traces the history of these great painters and their on-site endeavors.

This is the location of Claude Monet's house and gardens, the place which so inspired the great painter. Thanks to the remarkable work of the gardeners to preserve the botanical heritage, visitors can discover the atmosphere which surrounded the artist at the end of the 19th century. Giverny is the birthplace of the Impressionists, and at least one visit is essential to really understand this painting movement. A trip to the Musée des Impressionnismes is the perfect follow-up to a visit to the house and gardens.

Designated as a historic monument and completely restored, the mill at Andé has been playing host to musicians and strollers for over fifty years. Numerous violin and piano recitals are given each year in this relaxing, bucolic setting. Don't miss taking a walk in the vast grounds.

Launched in 2010, this amazing festival featuring a rich programme of events in this region themed around the Impressionists. In Rouen, we discovered a wonderful exhibition entitled: 'The Impressionists' City: Monet, Gauguin and Pissarro in Rouen'. It has been a hit success and each year follows a main theme: the city, water, portraits etc. Our region belongs to the great masters more than ever ...

Less than a ten minute walk from the hotel, the Musée Eugène Boudin – named after the forerunner of Impressionism – reveals one of the region's finest collections of paintings. Born in Honfleur in 1824, Eugène Boudin was a stationer who reinvented himself as a painter and whom his close friend Camille Corot would later nickname the 'king of skies'. A modern building in the heart of the old town, the museum that bears his name also houses works by the great Impressionist masters including Monet, Corot, Courbet and Jongkind.

This is one of the painters' preferred landscapes: étretat and its famous white chalk cliffs have in turn inspired Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. The latter had a real fascination for this carved section of coastline and painted 75 canvases here, including some 50 in the winter of 1885-86 alone! Even today, the same light that reigns over the pebbled beach retains its mysterious quality and is still a sight beheld by painters who come here from all over the world ... 

Honfleur is famous for its little harbour, cobbled streets and old mansions. It is also the birthplace of celebrated musician Erik Satie. The houses named after him offer a wonderful scenography and musical journey that conjure up the genius and 'crazy' sides to the artist. Headphones on, you walk through a world that is amusing and poetic. A journey of amazement through the universe of the composer of Gymnopédies and Gnossiennes.

The seaside Ferme Saint-Siméon has long been the refuge of Impressionist painters. Everyone knew how to find it and artists enjoyed the hospitality of the maternal Madame Toutain. Monet and Courbet loved the romantic surroundings as well as the beautiful estuary light. They would both practise their colour work whilst Baudelaire visited to escape the Paris spleen and seek inspiration … Painting classes are still on offer today in the gardens of the farm.