The Seine à Vélo: follow in the wheels of the Impressionists

Get on your bike and follow in the footsteps of the outdoor painters. Along the banks of the River Seine, discover the landscapes that inspired Monet, Renoir and Sisley and stop off at the museums that display their best works.

Giverny, the first stop on your trip

The first few kilometres of this Impressionist route are filled with a bucolic and inspiring atmosphere. In Monet‘s village, where he painted his greatest masterpieces such as Water Lilies, Millstones and Poplars, poetry reigns supreme. Everything in Giverny invites contemplation. By following the signs on the cultural trail, you can enjoy the most beautiful views of the village and discover its history. The Musée des Impressionismes exhibits magnificent canvases that will prolong your reverie. But to experience Monet’s intimacy, you must enter his house, full of memories, and lose yourself in the colours of his garden. Then you can expect the master to appear at the corner of a flower bed! Then cycle to the banks of the Seine. The route winds through the Normandy countryside, dotted with typical thatched cottages and old mills, such as the one in Vernon, immortalised by Monet. You can also visit the town’s charming museum to discover works by Théodore Butler, Blanche Hoschedé-Monet, the painter’s daughter-in-law, and Pierre Bonnard.

A few pedal strokes and you’re in Rouen, the capital of Impressionism

The adventure continues to Rouen, with its cathedral that fascinated Monet and its bridges that Pissarro never grew tired of painting. Soak up the picturesque medieval atmosphere of the town, with its narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses, and climb to the top of the famous Gros-Horloge for a 360° view. A stop at the Musée des Beaux-Arts is a must. It has one of the largest Impressionist collections in France! Follow the quays and you’ll soon reach the Boucles de la Seine Normande Regional Nature Park. Towpaths, orchards and the gentle bobbing of barges punctuate the walk. Take the bac (small ferry) to La Bouille, a charming little riverside village so dear to the Impressionist painters. A little further on, Caudebec-en-Caux, where Boudin sketched the river, is home to the MuséoSeine and invites visitors to discover the history of the river through the landscapes painted by the Impressionists.

The Le Havre estuary on the horizon

As you cycle along the quaysides, the river gradually widens. The sea is just around the corner. Between cliffs and industrial landscapes, you will admire the Tancarville bridge before arriving in Le Havre, the true birthplace of Impressionism. It was here in 1872 that Claude Monet painted his famous canvas Impression, Soleil Levant, which gave the movement its name. It was also here that Boudin, considered one of the precursors of Impressionism, began a series of twenty port paintings. This is your chance to soak up the magical atmosphere of the port before entering the MuMa for a colourful tête-à-tête with the paintings of the masters. If your calves are tingling, you can also take a trip to Sainte-Adresse to discover the view painted by Monet in 1867.

The pleasures of the Normandy coast

It was in Honfleur that the Impressionist travellers met for more than fifteen years at the Ferme Saint Siméon. Stroll around the Vieux Bassin (old port) and discover the palette of the master of the place, Eugène Boudin, who knew like no other how to capture the beauty of the coastal sky. The Eugène Boudin Museum is packed with archives and paintings. After a rural ride through the Pays d’Auge, famous for its Calvados distilleries, the cycle route arrives at the great beach of Deauville, with its colourful boards and parasols painted by Courbet, Boudin and Caillebotte. Les Franciscaines, a new cultural centre in an exceptional setting, offers a wonderful dialogue with the works of these painters.

Across the bridge, Trouville-sur-Mer is a true gem. Unleash your horse and visit Villa Montebello, the town’s seaside museum of art and history, which exudes the atmosphere of the Belle Epoque. To round off this Impressionist adventure on two wheels in style, why not enjoy a seafood platter? Overlooking the town’s pretty fish market, the colours of the setting sun are a wonderful reward for the miles you’ve covered.

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