The first possible departure point for a bike trip reserved to genuine nomads! Discover the city of Le Havre, the cradle of Impressionism where Claude Monet painted his famous “Impression, Sunrise”. Explore its port and the Saint-François district, which inspired many impressionist painters. Go to the Musée d’art moderne André Malraux (MuMa) which is renowned for its collection of impressionist works by Renoir, Pissarro, Sisley, or Degas… You can also eat out at the restaurant Les Fauves, one of our 150 flavours, right in front of the sea, on one of the floors of the museum (booking advised).
Then head for Jumièges where you can spend the night at Le Domaine le clos des fontaines or at the Camping de la forêt, according to your desires and budget.
Then head for Jumièges where you can spend the night at Le Domaine le clos des fontaines or at the Camping de la forêt, according to your desires and budget.
Day 1b : Honfleur > Jumièges (70 km)
The second possible departure point. Start your day in the midst of the picturesque scenes of the Vieux Bassin in Honfleur. Soak up this lively seaside atmosphere with its glittering boats in still waters. This is where the Impressionists found inspiration from the plays of light and colour, so take out some time to observe the shifting nuances of the landscape. Pause in front of Sainte-Catherine Church, a wooden architectural gem dating from the 15th century. Its pictorial look and rustic charm have attracted numerous artists, with some of them immortalising its unique forms on their canvases. Take the time to visit the Musée d’Eugène Boudin to gaze at works by artists who have depicted the town and Normandy. Don’t hesitate to take in as well the Ferme Saint Siméon, one of our 150 flavours, a charming inn which was a major artistic address where many impressionist painters stayed. Now converted into a luxury hotel, you can drop in for an elegant lunch or else have some much-needed tea.
Set off towards Jumièges to spend the night there (see the booking options above)
Set off towards Jumièges to spend the night there (see the booking options above)
Day 2 : Jumièges > Rouen (54 km)
Along the meanders of the Seine can be found the peaceful village of Jumièges. In the footsteps of the Impressionists, your bike trip will take you to this haven of inspiration where you can take in Laurent Grasso’s exhibition from 25th May to 24th September 2024 at the Abbaye de Jumièges, France’s finest ancient ruin. To grab a bite to eat, we can recommend the Auberge des Ruines, right in front of the abbey, for its seasonal, local cuisine (the restaurant has its own vegetable garden).
Continue your journey towards La Bouille, a source of inspiration that spoke to such impressionist painters as Turner, Sisley or Gauguin, while encountering throughout your trip some of Normandy’s typical half-timbered houses, as you go towards Rouen.
Once in Rouen, don’t miss the events of the Normandie Impressionniste Festival, such as the light show on the Cathedral that inspired Monet: “Star and stone: a kind of love… some say” by the American artist Robert Wilson. Then pedal to the Musée des Beaux-Arts which has a permanent impressionist exhibition, while also inviting you to discover its temporary show Normandism by the British artist David Hockney, where from 22nd March to 22nd September 2024 you can admire some of his new paintings, inspired by the Impressionist movement, painted in his adoptive, colourful Normandy.
We recommend the Hôtel littéraire Gustave Flaubert to lovers of literature and the world of painting, or the guest rooms at La Maison to relax amid its greenery.
To eat out, don’t miss the Café Hamlet, one of our 150 flavours, on the historic site of the Aître Saint-Maclou, or Dame Cakes for a delightful moment in front of the cathedral.
Continue your journey towards La Bouille, a source of inspiration that spoke to such impressionist painters as Turner, Sisley or Gauguin, while encountering throughout your trip some of Normandy’s typical half-timbered houses, as you go towards Rouen.
Once in Rouen, don’t miss the events of the Normandie Impressionniste Festival, such as the light show on the Cathedral that inspired Monet: “Star and stone: a kind of love… some say” by the American artist Robert Wilson. Then pedal to the Musée des Beaux-Arts which has a permanent impressionist exhibition, while also inviting you to discover its temporary show Normandism by the British artist David Hockney, where from 22nd March to 22nd September 2024 you can admire some of his new paintings, inspired by the Impressionist movement, painted in his adoptive, colourful Normandy.
We recommend the Hôtel littéraire Gustave Flaubert to lovers of literature and the world of painting, or the guest rooms at La Maison to relax amid its greenery.
To eat out, don’t miss the Café Hamlet, one of our 150 flavours, on the historic site of the Aître Saint-Maclou, or Dame Cakes for a delightful moment in front of the cathedral.
Day 3 : Rouen > Giverny (6 km)
Take the train to Rouen and its Vernon-Giverny station so as to continue your bike trip to Vernon. Drop into the Musée de Vernon with its rich and varied collection, which is an essential step in your impressionist-themed journey.
Keep cycling to Giverny where you can visit the Maison de Claude Monet, open from April to November, and explore its famous gardens, to admire the renowned waterlilies, Japanese bridges and flowerbeds that inspired his inimitable series of paintings. Then cross the town to visit the Musée des Impressionnismes known for its prestigious exhibitions, put on two or three times a year, from March to January, around subjects pertaining to Impressionism and its more contemporary developments, in particular with the flagship show "Hiramatsu Reiji Symphonie des nymphéas".
To stay the night in Giverny, we recommend the charm of the hotel La Musardière as well as the Restaurant Baudy, a former hotel that acted as a studio for many impressionist painters.
Keep cycling to Giverny where you can visit the Maison de Claude Monet, open from April to November, and explore its famous gardens, to admire the renowned waterlilies, Japanese bridges and flowerbeds that inspired his inimitable series of paintings. Then cross the town to visit the Musée des Impressionnismes known for its prestigious exhibitions, put on two or three times a year, from March to January, around subjects pertaining to Impressionism and its more contemporary developments, in particular with the flagship show "Hiramatsu Reiji Symphonie des nymphéas".
To stay the night in Giverny, we recommend the charm of the hotel La Musardière as well as the Restaurant Baudy, a former hotel that acted as a studio for many impressionist painters.
Day 4 : Giverny > Mantes-la-Jolie (42 km)
Follow the “La Seine à Vélo” to Roche-Guyon and then Vétheuil. You’ll pass through the towns of Limetz-Villez, Bennecourt with its small businesses and then Gommecourt, before arriving in Vétheuil. During your journey, you’ll be able to admire two “Painters’ Pathways”: reproductions of canvases inviting you to encounter some of the personalities (Pissarro, Luce, Renoir, Jouanny, Monet…) who frequented this meander of the Seine and the chalk cliffs that overhang it. On the way, you’ll pass by the Maison Monet, which can be seen from the route. In Vétheuil, it is possible to cross the Seine thanks to a free ferry with your bike, to take in the landscape painted by Monet from Lavacourt. Then head for Mantes-la-Jolie where you can visit the museum of the Hôtel Dieu so as to (re)discover the artist Maximilien Luce, a painter, designer and engraver from the post-impressionist generation.
To spend the night at Mantes-la-Jolie, we recommend the Hôtel du Val de Seine which is on the “Seine à Vélo” itinerary and not far from the Collégiale Notre Dame. If you want to eat out, there is Lebanese food at the Jardin des Saveurs or you can enjoy a bistro-style dinner with music beside the Seine at Le Boucanier.
To spend the night at Mantes-la-Jolie, we recommend the Hôtel du Val de Seine which is on the “Seine à Vélo” itinerary and not far from the Collégiale Notre Dame. If you want to eat out, there is Lebanese food at the Jardin des Saveurs or you can enjoy a bistro-style dinner with music beside the Seine at Le Boucanier.
Day 5: Mantes-la-Jolie > Chatou (25 km)
From Mantes-la-Jolie, take the Transilien J and get off at Conflans-Sainte-Honorine. Then get back on your bike to head for Herblay-sur-Seine and La Frette-sur-Seine. Go along the quays to discover the superb villas dating back to the previous century, with exhibitions of works by such painters who have immortalised the river as Pissarro, Marquet, or Daubigny…
Continue your trip to Saint Germain Boucles de Seine where the Intercommunal Tourist Board is putting on a broad and rich programme for the 150th anniversary of Impressionism from March to October 2024. Then head for Saint-Germain-en-Laye where the Musée Maurice Denis is presenting a large collection around this post-impressionist painter in his former home. Don’t hesitate to take in the beautiful historic centre of Saint-Germain to have lunch at Felicity’s Cafe then head for Croissy-sur-Seine to discover the Musée de la Grenouillère and the Chemins des Impressionnistes in Croissy-sur-Seine and Chatou.
On the island of the Impressionists in Chatou, where Renoir painted his famous Luncheon of the Boating Party, you can take in a large number of attractions such as Giant Cluedos®, theatrical events, guinguette cruises, a painting workshop and guided visits. This will also be the opportunity to visit the Musée Fournaise and the Sequana boat workshop to transport you back to the atmosphere of the era of boating.
Continue for a few more kilometres to the Parc des Impressionnistes in Rueil Malmaison whose landscaping was inspired in particular by Claude Monet’s gardens in Giverny.
Taken since the 19th century by walkers, who were at the time drawn by boating and guinguettes, follow the banks of the Seine, from Rueil to Colombes, a special track which will delight cyclists….this towpath is bordered by weeping willows. Here, amidst the Hauts-de-Seine, the landscapes of the riverside towns along the Seine greatly inspired Caillebotte, Seurat, Sisley, Manet, Monet and many others. Gennevilliers, Rueil-Malmaison, Levallois or else Asnières and Sèvres were the subjects of countless canvases. The département of Les Hauts-de-Seine was a key site for Impressionism.
If you want to sleep over in Chatou, we recommend the Hôtel Cerise, with its three stars and Accueil Vélo label. To eat out, treat yourself by going to the Maison Fournaise, the guinguette that inspired Renoir’s painting Luncheon of the Boating Party. For more modest budgets, the restaurant Les Rives de la Courtille is also on the Île des Impressionnistes.
Day 6: Chatou > Paris (30 km)
The final stage of this wonderful journey, head for the capital !
Go via Argenteuil to discover the Maison Impressionniste where Claude Monet lived for four years, then finish your trip by heading for Paris where some exceptional exhibitions are awaiting you. It’s very easy to reach Paris from Argenteuil : go along the Seine then Canal Saint-Denis, famous for its Street Art Avenue that offers 5 kilometres of urban art in the open air. On your right, you can admire the Stade de France where a large number of Olympic and Paralympic events will be held ! Once at La Villette, follow the romantic Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Martin before finding the Seine again beside Notre-Dame.
The first option for an impressionist visit is the Musée d’Orsay with its temporary exhibition “1874: Inventer l’Impressionnisme” which celebrates the anniversary of this movement, accompanied by an immersive experience “Un soir avec les impressionnistes. Paris 1874”, which will allow you to put yourself in the shoes of a Parisian back in the day, thanks to a virtual reality headset.
Opposite the Musée d’Orsay, on the other side of the Seine, your second cultural stopover will be the Musée de l’Orangerie, in the Tuileries gardens, just beside Place de la Concorde. You will be able to admire there Monet’s famous waterlilies in their panoramic rooms as well as many other works by impressionist artists.
Finally, in the traces of the Olympic Games, the Musée Marmottan Monet has on offer not only its permanent exhibits (including the largest collection in the world of works by Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot) but also a show about artists and sport, from Impressionism to Cubism (from 4th April to 1st September). To get to the Musée Marmottan Monet from the centre of Paris, secure cycle paths are available on the Rive Gauche along the Seine, from the forecourt of Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower, via Les Invalides.
To sum up, Paris has an offer a great choice of impressionist escapades !
Do you want to extend your stay in Paris ? Then choose among the accommodation with the “Accueil Vélo” label. For small budgets, the HI Paris Yves Robert youth hostel, in a lively neighbourhood (Paris 18th), is an excellent address to chill out. Also in the 18th arrondissement, the Hotel The Originals Boutique Hôtel Maison Montmartre provides a special alternative with its rooftop and its stunning view of the Sacré-Coeur. Further south, the Aparthotel Adagio Paris Nation is also a great destination for cyclists on the move !
Go via Argenteuil to discover the Maison Impressionniste where Claude Monet lived for four years, then finish your trip by heading for Paris where some exceptional exhibitions are awaiting you. It’s very easy to reach Paris from Argenteuil : go along the Seine then Canal Saint-Denis, famous for its Street Art Avenue that offers 5 kilometres of urban art in the open air. On your right, you can admire the Stade de France where a large number of Olympic and Paralympic events will be held ! Once at La Villette, follow the romantic Canal de l’Ourcq and Canal Saint-Martin before finding the Seine again beside Notre-Dame.
The first option for an impressionist visit is the Musée d’Orsay with its temporary exhibition “1874: Inventer l’Impressionnisme” which celebrates the anniversary of this movement, accompanied by an immersive experience “Un soir avec les impressionnistes. Paris 1874”, which will allow you to put yourself in the shoes of a Parisian back in the day, thanks to a virtual reality headset.
Opposite the Musée d’Orsay, on the other side of the Seine, your second cultural stopover will be the Musée de l’Orangerie, in the Tuileries gardens, just beside Place de la Concorde. You will be able to admire there Monet’s famous waterlilies in their panoramic rooms as well as many other works by impressionist artists.
Finally, in the traces of the Olympic Games, the Musée Marmottan Monet has on offer not only its permanent exhibits (including the largest collection in the world of works by Claude Monet and Berthe Morisot) but also a show about artists and sport, from Impressionism to Cubism (from 4th April to 1st September). To get to the Musée Marmottan Monet from the centre of Paris, secure cycle paths are available on the Rive Gauche along the Seine, from the forecourt of Notre-Dame to the Eiffel Tower, via Les Invalides.
To sum up, Paris has an offer a great choice of impressionist escapades !
Do you want to extend your stay in Paris ? Then choose among the accommodation with the “Accueil Vélo” label. For small budgets, the HI Paris Yves Robert youth hostel, in a lively neighbourhood (Paris 18th), is an excellent address to chill out. Also in the 18th arrondissement, the Hotel The Originals Boutique Hôtel Maison Montmartre provides a special alternative with its rooftop and its stunning view of the Sacré-Coeur. Further south, the Aparthotel Adagio Paris Nation is also a great destination for cyclists on the move !
