Impressionist. Normandy. Travel Trade Edition

Transcription

1 Impressionist Normandy Travel Trade Edition 2014

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3 Impressionist Normandy Travel Trade Edition 2014

4 Dieppe Beach at the beginning of the 20 th century Frères Séeberger - Charenton-le-Pont, Médiathèque de l'architecture et du Patrimoine Ministère de la Culture RMN-Grand Palais

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6 Normandy, the Impressionists favourite outdoor studio Impressionism was born in Normandy, from the meeting of English avant-garde painters (Turner, Bonington, Cotman) with their French counterparts (Géricault, Delacroix, Isabey), and the emergence of a French school of nature (Corot, Huet, Millet, Rousseau). At the beginning of the 1860s, the cream of the new painting movement gathered in Honfleur, at the ferme Saint-Siméon: Monet, Courbet, Daubigny, Boudin, Jongkind, Bazille... At the same time, Degas painted his first horse races at Le Pin National Stud, Manet revolutionised marine painting at Cherbourg, Courbet and Whistler painted seascapes at Trouville-Deauville and Berthe Morisot radiant landscapes on the Channel coast. With Impression, sunrise, painted at Le Havre in 1872, Claude Monet would give his name to Impressionism. Following him, all his friends (Degas, Pissarro, Renoir, Berthe Morisot, Gauguin, Sisley, Caillebotte) came to paint on the Normandy coast, and along the Seine. Colonies of foreign artists also settled in the region. Painting schools developed, from which young rebels arose (Seurat, Signac, Angrand, Dufy, Braque, Duchamp...). Yet it was Monet more than half of whose work was executed in Normandy who would carry Impressionism to its most brilliant heights, with his famous series the Cliffs of Etretat, the Cathedrals of Rouen, and the Water Lilies of Giverny. So it was that for over a century, the majestic current of Impressionism irrigated the land of Normandy, leading to exceptional harvests. We invite you to come and meet all these artists who revolutionised painting. Jacques-Sylvain KLEIN General Superintendent of the 1 st Normandy Impressionist Festival Author of Lumières normandes, les hauts-lieux de l Impressionnisme and Guide du Routard Impressionist Normandy

7 Impressionist Normandy Travel Trade Edition The idea for this first Impressionist Normandy Travel Trade Edition sprang from the success of The Normandy Impressionist Festival and the numerous requests for tours and excursions that resulted from this event. Everybody loves the Impressionists, including your customers. Their paintings inspire awe and bring pleasure. These are painters who are easily approached, whether by adults or schoolchildren, or by tourists, French or foreign. Their canvases are known throughout the whole world and exhibited in major museums. Impressionist exhibitions attract hundreds of thousands of visitors. This Travel Trade Edition will allow you to organise your clients trips to Normandy, birthplace of Impressionism, where Claude Monet painted over half of his works, and where all his friends completed major works of art. Normandy s museums abound with works of art with extremely rich permanent collections, and with major events, the Festival or other major temporary exhibitions. Impressionism is obviously to be explored in these museums, but also on foot or sailing on the Seine, hiking or going to a restaurant in all the ways which you will discover in this Travel Trade Edition. Normandy is easily accessible, and close to London and Paris. Impressionism can therefore be explored in one or several days, as suits your itinerary. The main Impressionist sites are also an opportunity to experience the local way of life, its fine cuisine and its high quality accommodation. Good things and beautiful things make a perfect marriage Welcome to Impressionist Normandy! Alain Le Vern President of The Upper Normandy Region President of the Normandy Tourist Board Gustave Caillebotte Stroller by the Sea, 1885 Private Collection Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library

8 The Old Dock in Honfleur

9 CONTENTS WHY PROGRAMME NORMANDY AS AN IMPRESSIONIST DESTINATION?...9 MAP OF THE REGION...12 SEVENTEEN IMPRESSIONIST ITINERARIES IN NORMANDY...14 A day at Giverny at Claude Monet s home Rouen Honfleur Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse Dieppe and Varengeville-sur-Mer Caen and on the Bessin Coast Cherbourg and on the Cherbourg Peninsula with Jean-François Millet In an artists village Tours The Claude Monet Grand Tour Claude Monet s Water Lilies Claude Monet s Cathedrals The Seine of the Impressionists, from Paris to the sea The Seine Estuary The Alabaster Coast Impressionism taking it easy Travelling to Normandy s Impressionist sites by train The pathways of Impressionism on foot Impressionism afloat Normandy Tourist Board 14, rue Charles Corbeau Évreux FRANCE Tel. : + 33 (0) Fax : + 33 (0) YOUR CONTACTS UK Alison WEATHERHEAD a.weatherhead@normandie-tourisme.fr Tel.: + 33 (0) Benelux Mariska TREBAOL m.trebaol@normandie-tourisme.fr Tel.: + 33 (0) Other European countries Emilie URSULE e.ursule@normandie-tourisme.fr Tel.: + 33 (0) All other countries Edouard VALERE e.valere@normandie-tourisme.fr Tel.: + 33 (0) PRACTICAL INFORMATION...64 Acknowledgements In this Travel Trade Edition you will find: suggestions for tours lasting one or several days, and technical information about each of the sites, identified by a numbered label 2 The information contained in this Travel Trade Edition was collected in It is therefore given as guidance for 2014 and is not of a contractual nature. The whole team at The Normandy Tourist Board is on hand to help you transform each of these suggestions into reality. So don t hesitate to contact us! Photo Credits: p Fondation Claude Monet Giverny / Tout droit réservés C.R.T. p.17 Musée des impressionnistes : J.Faujour (ADAGP); Maison de Monet : T.Houyel; p.23 OT Le Havre Pixell ; p.25 Dieppe: P.Jeanson; p.27 Vudoiseau D.Decamps; p.30 Honfleur: P.Jeanson; Giverny: PackShot-Fotolia.com; p.31 La Veules: Vudoiseau D.Decamps ; p.52 H : E.Bernard ; p.60 Sortie Nature de l'association Naterra / Photo Philippe Deneufve IStock p Benoît Eliot Point de vues p J.-F. Lange-CRT Normandie p.45 Couverture: Rouen, Cathédrale, private collection 4 e de couverture Paul Signac, Mont Saint-Michel, Fog and Sun, 1897, private collection / Photo Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library Printing: Geers Offset Graphics: Éditions Point de vues - Rouen Translation: Derek Hall Cartography: Actual This first Travel Trade Edition would not have seen the light of day without Emilie Barthelmé, project manager at the Normandy Tourist Board, who prepared and drafted it, without Jacques-Sylvain Klein, who gave valuable advice, without all of Normandy s partners in culture and tourism who provided the material, without an editor, Point de vues, and all those truly dedicated to ensuring that this work should be beautiful since Impressionism means beauty. The Travel Trade Edition would not have been possible without the financial support and the confidence of the Regions of Upper and Lower Normandy. Particular thanks to the Paris-Ile de France Tourist Board and to Atout France with whom the Normandy Tourist Board is developing Destination Impressionism for all markets and with whom many projects are underway. To each of them, our thanks. Jean-Louis Laville Director of the Normandy Tourist Board

10 Pissarro Monet Renoir Caillebotte Berthe Morisot Courbet Gauguin Manet Millet Signac Mary Cassatt Degas Seurat Boudin Jongkind

11 7 Why programme Normandy as an Impressionist destination? > > > > > > > Everyone loves Impressionism Impressionism was born in Normandy A history written by some of the giants Normandy s museums have an abundance of Impressionist works of art Original tourist activities linked to Impressionism An easily accessible destination The Good Life in Normandy

12 Camille Pissarro Johan Barthold Jongkind Gustave Courbet Edouard Manet James Whistler

13 Gustave Caillebotte Edgar Degas Berthe Morisot Jean-François Millet Eugène Boudin Claude Monet Auguste Renoir

14 Impressionist Normandy

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16 Claude Monet s dining room in Giverny Photo Fondation Claude Monet, Giverny / All rights reserved

17 Impressionist itineraries in Normandy A day at Giverny at Claude Monet's home Rouen Honfleur Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse Dieppe and Varengeville-sur-Mer Caen and on the Bessin Coast Cherbourg and on the Cherbourg Peninsula with Jean-François Millet An artist's village Tours The Claude Monet Grand Tour Claude Monet s Water Lilies Claude Monet s Cathedrals The Seine of The Impressionists, from Paris to the sea The Seine estuary The Alabaster Coast Impressionism taking it easy Travelling to Normandy s Impressionist sites by train The pathways of Impressionism on foot Impressionism afloat

18 Claude Monet Water Lilies, Musee Marmottan-Monet, Paris The Bridgeman Art Library

19 17 A day out in Eure A day at Giverny at Claude Monet's Home Claude Monet lived half his life at Giverny. Come and explore this village and everything that made this great painter happy: the house with its pink render and green shutters, the kitchen with blue tiling and the dining room with yellow walls, the collection of Japanese engravings, the superb gardens surrounding the house, the famous water lily pond and the Japanese bridge which inspired him so. Also come and visit the Museum of the Impressionists, wander through the village streets and the artists galleries, walk through the fields of poppies and visit the cemetery where Monet rests Easily accessible by road or train, Giverny is situated mid-way between Paris and Rouen and awaits you from the end of March until the end of October. The Museum of Impressionism Must-sees Claude Monet s House and Gardens The Museum of Impressionism 5 The Baudy Restaurant 3 2 Come and explore this charming village and find out all about what made the great painter happy Unforgettable experiences A plane flight over the valley of the Impressionists 10 A river trip on the Seine At Les Canisses, in a modern guinguette near Giverny, enjoy the Pieds dans l Eau ( Toes in the Water ) terrace, with boats and pedalos for hire, and an Impressionist cruise 15 To extend your stay Claude Monet s House Suggested itinerary Start the day by visiting the House and Gardens of Claude Monet. Follow that with the temporary exhibition at the Museum of Impressionism. Then take the time to walk through the village streets, past the delicately scented flowers, wander into the shops and art galleries. Take a boat trip on the Seine or fly over the sites of Giverny in a microlight: you are bound to be impressed Conferences on Impressionism at the Museum of Impressionism, Giverny 6 The cultural discovery path, Giverny village 8 Walking tour In Monet s Footsteps, around Giverny 9 Claude Monet s grave, Giverny 4 The Restaurant des Nymphéas, Giverny 17 The A.G. Poulain Museum, Vernon 7 Château-Gaillard at Les Andelys, with its panoramic view over the meander in the Seine 16 Claude Monet The Japanese Footbridge and the Water Lily Pool, 1899 philadelphia, pennsylvania The Mr and Mrs Carroll S. Tyson, Jr Collection, 1963 / The Bridgeman Art Library Claude Monet s dining room

20 Claude Monet Rouen Cathedral Facade and Tour d'albane (Morning Effect) Museum of fine arts, Boston RMN-Grand Palais

21 19 A day out in Seine-Maritime A day in Rouen Rouen is the city of Impressionism and its cathedral is an icon. Since the time of Turner and Bonington, the town of a hundred bell towers has attracted the greatest artists (Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin, Sisley) and inspired the creation of the Rouen School (Lebourg, Angrand, Delattre ). Its Museum des Beaux-Arts takes pride in exhibiting one of the greatest Impressionist collections in France. In Rouen you will find places which have been the source of so much inspiration: the Seine, its bridges and quays, the cathedral made famous by Monet, the Boieldieu bridge, the rue du Gros-Horloge (street of the Great Clock), the medieval quarter with its antique shops and art galleries Original and fun activities on an Impressionist theme are also available. The town of a hundred bell towers has attracted the greatest artists The panorama of Rouen from Sainte-Catherine hill Must-sees The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 19 The Impressionist collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Rouen 21 In the Footsteps of the Impressionists a guided tour of Rouen 29 unforgettable experiences The panorama of Rouen and the meander in the Seine from Sainte- Catherine hill, Rouen 18 On summer evenings, the Impressionist light show on the façade of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 36 Paint like Claude Monet workshop in the artist s former studio, facing the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 33 An Impressionist lunch or dinner in Claude Monet s former studio, in Rouen 34 Le Gros-Horloge Suggested itinerary To best explore Impressionist Rouen, start off with the guided visit In the footsteps of the Impressionists in the old town, then visit the Impressionist collections at the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Have lunch in one of the restaurants offering Impressionist menus. Visit the cathedral and then take part in a Paint like Claude Monet workshop. At sunset don t miss the panoramic view of Rouen from Sainte-Catherine hill. Have an Impressionist dinner in Claude Monet s workshop in front of the cathedral. In summer see the sound and light show on the cathedral façade. The Cathedral Did you know? To paint his twenty-eight canvases of the façade of the cathedral, Claude Monet had three studios. One of these was in the Renaissance Hotel on the cathedral square, which is now the Tourist Office and is open to visitors: it s here that the Paint like Claude Monet workshop takes place. You can also have lunch or dinner here. To extend your stay in Rouen... The Great Clock with its Museum of Time and its 360 view over the rooftops of Old Rouen 22 The Maritime, River and Port Museum 24 Sunset walk along the banks of the Seine, followed by a drink at the docks 35 An Impressionist lunch or dinner, inspired by Claude Monet s Carnets de cuisine 37 The Museum of Ceramics 23 The Secq des Tournelles Museum of Ironwork 25 The Flaubert Museum and the Museum of the History of Medicine and nearby The Abbey of Jumièges 20 A walk in the sculpture garden of the Château de Bois-Guilbert 31 A guided tour of the village of La Bouille, by the Seine 30 or on a cruise 39 The Centre of Contemporary Art of Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville 28 The Victor Hugo museum at Villequier, by the Seine 27 Crossing the Seine on eight ferry routes, between Rouen and Le Havre 38 Impressionist itineraries prepared by the Seine-Maritime Tourist Board The various numbered points refer you to the

22 The old Dock in Honfleur

23 21 A day out in Calvados A day at Honfleur Don t miss picturesque Honfleur and its architectural and cultural wealth! This miraculously unspoilt little port town has always attracted many artists be they painters, musicians or writers. Take a tour of the "Ferme Saint-Siméon" and the Eugène Boudin museum, reminders of the great Impressionist period at Honfleur. Enjoy the special charm of the town while wandering round the port, through its narrow medieval alleys, and along the old harbour and also take a look at its shops and its cafés, which are many and charming in a word, time stops at Honfleur. A perfect stop not to be missed on any account. Suggested itinerary Sainte-Catherine bell tower Must-sees The Old Dock 42 The Eugène Boudin Museum Sainte-Catherine church and its bell tower 43 The "Ferme Saint-Siméon" 44 Guided tour In the footsteps of Painters at Honfleur Don t miss two panoramic views from the heights of Honfleur, one over the rooftops of the old town and the Pont de Normandie (Normandy Bridge) at Mont-Joli, and the other towards the Seine estuary and the port of Le Havre (at the Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Grâce). Then visit the Eugène Boudin museum which will plunge you into 19 th century artistic Honfleur, before wandering through the old alleys, around the old port, into shops and art galleries and around Sainte-Catherine church. If you have the time, don t miss a picnic lunch near Honfleur and a boat trip on the estuary. Alexandre Dubourg The Pier at Honfleur MuMa, musée d Art moderne André Malraux, Le Havre This little port town has always attracted many artists be they painters, musicians or writers Unforgettable experiences A luncheon on the grass at the Domaine of Apreval, a cider producer overlooking the sea 60 A boat trip on the estuary A stay at the Hotel Ferme Saint- Siméon 44 or at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville 61 To extend your stay in Honfleur... The view over the town from the Mont-Joli and the circular walk exploring the town of Honfleur 51 The Maisons Satie 47 L Hôtel du Cheval Blanc 45 The Garden of Fame 52 The Salt Warehouses and nearby Crossing the Pont de Normandie 59 The town of Le Havre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site (See the A Day in Le Havre tour) The seaside resorts of Trouville and of Deauville 55 The Impressionists tour, Houlgate 56 Félix Cals The Ferme Saint-Siméon, 1876 Museum of Art, Philadelphia Did you know? In its day, the Ferme Saint-Siméon was a hostelry frequented by many pre-impressionist artists (Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Johan Barthold Jongkind, Frédéric Bazille ). Today it is a high class establishment. Don t miss the opportunity to have a drink, lunch, dine or even stay there. Given its perfect setting on the heights above Honfleur, with its magnificent view over the whole estuary, you can well understand how this spot captivated artists in the 19 th century.

24 Claude Monet Impression, Sunrise, 1872 Musée Marmottan-Monet, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library

25 23 A day out in Seine-Maritime A day at Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse MuMa - André Malraux Museum of Modern Art Offering a striking contrast of modernity to its neighbour Honfleur, the town of Le Havre is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site and it is well worth staying here. Claude Monet painted his famous work Impression, sunrise, here which gave its name to the Impressionist movement! Don t miss a visit to the wonderful collections at the museum, or a walk along the coast to the heights of Sainte-Adresse or a stroll through the town, which is fascinatingly modern, where water and its reflections, so often painted by Monet and his friends, are omnipresent. Suggested itinerary Must-sees The MuMa - André Malraux Museum of Modern Art 63 The Impressionist walk from Le Havre to Sainte-Adresse 64 Unforgettable experiences The Impressionist cooking workshop, Le Havre 70 The panorama over Le Havre and the bay of the Seine from the heights of Sainte-Adresse 62 Start with the Impressionist walk and the panoramic view of the whole of Le Havre from the heights of Sainte-Adresse. Then participate in the cooking workshop based on Claude Monet s Carnets de cuisine, and cook your own lunch. Then visit the André Malraux Museum of Modern Art with its magnificent collections and its exciting glass architecture. Afterwards climb aboard for a boat tour of the port before returning to the town centre and its monuments listed as UNESCO World Heritage in It's here that Claude Monet painted his famous work Impression, sunrise To extend your stay in Le Havre A boat tour of the port of Le Havre 69 The hanging gardens 65 A typical apartment designed by Perret 71 Saint-Joseph church 72 The Ship Owner s House and nearby The cliffs of Etretat 67 The charming port of Honfleur (see the tour A Day in Honfleur ) Harfleur, a medieval town close to Le Havre 66 Crossing the Pont de Normandie (Normandy Bridge) 59 Raoul Dufy Yacht decked with flags in Le Havre, c MuMa - André Malraux Museum of Modern Art Did you know? It was in Le Havre that Claude Monet painted Impression, Sunrise in Louis Leroy, the artist and journalist, entitled his sarcastic article which appeared in Le Charivari on April 25th 1874 The Impressionists Exhibition, so unintentionally giving a name to the most famous painting movement in the history of art. 22 The various numbered points refer you to the

26 Claude Monet Customs hut in Varengeville, The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

27 25 A day out in Seine-Maritime A day at Dieppe and Varengeville-sur-Mer The Castle museum of Dieppe A renowned 19 th century seaside resort, the town of Dieppe attracted the upper classes and numerous artists, who, besides their fascination for the sea and the light, were also on the lookout for potential buyers. Explore the exceptional cultural heritage of Dieppe and its environs today. Don t forget to follow in the footsteps of Claude Monet, Camille Pissarro, Eugène Boudin, Auguste Renoir and Jacques-Emile Blanche from Dieppe to Offranville, Pourville and Varengeville-sur-Mer. With visits to stately homes, wonderful gardens and guided walks in the town or on the cliff tops, these delightful places will prove inspirational. Must-sees The Impressionist collection of the Castle museum of Dieppe The coastal panorama from the church of Saint-Valéry, with its sailors cemetery, at Varengeville-sur-Mer 74 The Park of Bois des Moutiers at Varengeville-sur-Mer Suggested Itineraries Having visited Dieppe, carry on along the coast to Pourville, then Varengeville-sur- Mer and finally Offranville. Return to Dieppe via Tourville-sur-Arques. If you have the time, drive along the coast to Le Tréport and Eu via Berneval. Explore the exceptional cultural heritage of Dieppe and its environs today Unforgettable experiences Guided tour Dieppe and Impressionist Period Artists Impressionist walks along the cliffs around Dieppe To extend your stay Saint-Jacques church, Dieppe 76 The Jacques-Emile Blanche Museum at Offranville 77 The Jacques-Emile Blanche and the painters of his time tour from Offranville to Dieppe 84 The Shamrock Garden at Varengeville-sur-Mer Ango Manor, Varengeville-sur-Mer 79 Michel Ciry Museum at Varengeville-sur-Mer 86 The garden of Vasterival at Sainte-Marguerite-sur-Mer 87 The Château of Miromesnil at Tourville-sur-Arques 78 Impressionist itineraries prepared by the Seine-Maritime Tourist Board Eva Gonzalès The Woman on the Cliff Private Collection Noortman Master Paintings, Amsterdam The Bridgeman Art Library Did you know? Auguste Renoir spent several summers at the Château de Wargemont (now in private hands) situated at Derchigny- Graincourt, a few kilometres north of Dieppe. Invited by the Bérard family, the painter completed many canvases of the family and landscapes of the surrounding area, several of which are now at the Castle Museum of Dieppe. Varengeville-sur-Mer

28 Paul Signac Port-en-Bessin, Calvados, c Private Collection The Bridgeman Art Library

29 27 A day out in Calvados A day in Caen and on the Bessin coast Don t miss the rich collections of Impressionist paintings on offer in Caen and take a trip out to the Bessin area in the steps of two major figures of post-impressionist painting: Georges Seurat and Paul Signac. Make the most of your stay to visit the Pays d Auge, which is not far away with its distilleries and picturesque villages, the D-Day landing beaches as well as the sites of Caen and Bayeux, steeped in history. The Abbaye-aux-Dames, Caen Must-sees The Impressionist collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Caen 88 The Painting in Normandy collection at the Abbaye-aux- Dames, Caen 89 Unforgettable experiences Walking route: Neo- Impressionism, embodied by the painters Georges Seurat and Paul Signac s visit to Port-en-Bessin 91 Georges Seurat Harbour at Port-en-Bessin at High Tide, 1888 Musée d Orsay, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library Stanislas Lépine The Saint-Pierre Dock, Caen, v Collection Peindre en Normandie Set off in the footsteps of two major figures of post-impressionist painting: Georges Seurat and Paul Signac To extend your stay In Caen: the Abbaye-aux-Hommes 93 the Abbaye-aux-Dames 94 and the Memorial 96 In Bayeux: the Baron-Gérard Museum with a magnificent painting by Gustave Caillebotte 95 the Bayeux tapestry 90 The D-Day landing beaches 97 In Lisieux: Sainte-Thérèse Basilica 98 The Pays d Auge, the village of Beuvron-en- Auge, listed amongst the prettiest villages of France, and its many distilleries 92 Suggested Itinerary You can go from Caen to Bayeux, Port-en-Bessin and the D-Day landing beaches by heading north and west. You can also go from Caen to Lisieux and the "Pays d Auge" by heading towards Cabourg, Deauville and Honfleur. Georges Seurat Study for Le Bec du Hoc, Grandcamp, 1885 Tate Gallery, London Photo Lefevre Fine Art Ltd., London The Bridgeman Art Library

30 Jean-François Millet Gréville Cliffs, 1871 Gréville Cliffs / Ohara Art Museum

31 29 A day out in the Manche A day in Cherbourg and on The hamlet of Gruchy, today the Cherbourg Peninsula with Jean-François Millet This region is the birthplace of Jean-François Millet, author of the famous Angelus, who painted an important part of his works of art here. Walk in his footsteps and visit the places which inspired him and to which he felt such a strong emotional attachment. You won t be disappointed. The Cherbourg Peninsula is very unspoilt. Visiting its exceptional natural sites and its small villages with stone houses, you will have a different concept of space and time and will inevitably be won over by its charm. Suggested Itineraries Must-sees The Thomas-Henry Museum of Art, Cherbourg 99 The hamlet of Gruchy, the house where Jean-François Millet was born, and the walk overlooking the sea at the end of the village 100 Sainte-Colombe church, Gréville-Hague 101 Unforgettable experiences The botanical gardens of the Château of Vauville 104 The coastal path around Gréville 105 For the Western part of the Cotentin: Drom Cherbourg, head towards Gréville- Hague, where you may visit the church, the house where Jean-François Millet was born in the charming hamlet of Gruchy, from where you can also take the coastal path with its exceptional panoramic view over the sea behind Gruchy. Then continue along the coast towards Cape Hague and Jobourg Point. Visit the botanical gardens of The Château of Vauville. Continue to Mont-Saint-Michel passing through Barneville-Carteret and Granville. For the Eastern part of the Cotentin: Another itinerary allows you to head east after Gréville-Hague and Cherbourg towards Barfleur, Saint-Vaast-la-Hougue and Tatihou Island. You can then reach Sainte-Mère-Eglise and the D-Day landing beaches. Paul Signac The Port of Barfleur, 1931 Private Collection Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library Jean-François Millet Millet's birthplace at Gruchy, 1854 Museum Kroller-Müller, Otterlo Walk in Millet s footsteps and visit the places which inspired him and to which he felt such a strong emotional attachment To extend your stay The Hague Cape with the Goury lighthouse and Jobourg Point 106 The picturesque port of Barfleur where Paul Signac lived 102 Montfarville church with decorations by Guillaume Fouace 103 Tatiihou Island and its Marine Museum 107 The Mont-Saint-Michel 108 The D-Day landing beaches 97 Paul Signac Mont-Saint-Michel, Fog and Sun, 1897 Private Collection / Photo Christie's Images / The Bridgeman Art Library Did you know? Jean-François Millet is primarily known as the main representative of the Barbizon school, a village in the Fontainebleau forest, south of Paris, where you can visit his studio. But he was born and grew up on the Hague Peninsula, whose landscapes and buildings were a great source of inspiration. This is why his famous work The Sower, painted from memory at Barbizon, represents the hills of Gréville. The Cherbourg museum has an important collection of Millet s works, including exceptional portraits of his first wife and his in-laws from Cherbourg.

32 A day in an artists' village An artists village is so-called when, thanks to its atmosphere, its particular light and its cultural or natural wealth, it has attracted and inspired several generations of artists. In the days of the Impressionists, painters became involved in local village life but, being fairly poor for the most part, they would live at the local hostelry and exchange their paintings for board and lodging. Such was the case with the Ferme Saint-Siméon at Honfleur, as well as with the inn of the Moisy sisters at Saint-Cénéri-le-Gérei or with the Vieux-Plats near Etretat. If some villages are linked to a particularly significant figure such as Claude Monet with Giverny or Eugène Boudin with Honfleur, they are also a source of inspiration for artists of today: you only need to see the number of art galleries and artists studios you can visit at Honfleur, Giverny, Saint-Cénéri-le-Gérei or La Bouille. Very different from one another, these four villages are veritable open air museums and are well worth a visit. honfleur One of France s prettiest villages A small fortified port town which has miraculously preserved its medieval heritage, Honfleur, thanks to its old facades and its filigree of alleys has inspired many artists since the 15 th century painters, writers, musicians fascinated by the picturesque character of this place. Artistic life is still very alive today: you will find many craftsmen (painters, sculptors, stained glass makers, framers), artists studios and galleries of paintings. Painters are often to be seen around the old harbour, and painting courses and workshops are on offer almost everywhere in town. Savour its charm and take the time to wander through the shops and galleries and to sit on a café terrace to watch the world go by. Honfleur is among those special places where time stands still Suggested Itinerary Each artists village has its own unique atmosphere and is worth a visit. You can easily spend several hours strolling around each town, with so many things to see and do. Don t hesitate to spend at least half a day in each village. For those in more of a hurry, it s possible to visit the villages of Auvers-sur- Oise and Giverny in a single day. Artists villages in Île-de-France La Butte Montmartre, made famous by Renoir and Toulouse-Lautrec 120 Auvers-sur-Oise, final resting place of Vincent Van Gogh Barbizon, home of Jean-François Millet and Théodore Rousseau 122 Moret-sur-Loing, home of Alfred Sisley Giverny

33 31 A day out in Normandy From the time of the Impressionists, painters would live at the local hostelry and exchange their paintings for board and lodging giverny The village of claude monet Claude Monet fell under the spell of Giverny and moved there in The village rapidly became a meeting place for many artists: painters of the American colony moved here from In 1912, Pierre Bonnard bought a small property beside the Seine at Vernon five kilometres away. Giverny remains strongly associated with the figure of Claude Monet with his house and gardens which attract a large number of visitors every year. Take the time to amble through the streets of this charming little village, lined with shops, cafés and artists studios and galleries. Pause at the Baudy restaurant, which, as well as reserving a special welcome for you on its pretty shaded terrace right in the heart of the village, has a magnificent rose garden and an attractive artist s studio used by Cézanne. Every year, the Museum of Impressionism hosts two major temporary exhibitions. A must-see! étretat, yport, veules-les-roses The villages of artists of "La côte d Albâtre" (or Alabaster Coast) In olden days, Étretat was a small fishing village which was difficult to reach, but in the 19 th century it became an artistic centre where painters (Isabey, Le Poittevin, Delacroix, Courbet, Monet, Boudin), writers (Guy de Maupassant, Maurice Leblanc) and musicians (Jacques Offenbach) would meet. With its spectacular white chalk cliffs and its stunning view over the sea, Étretat often provided the perfect backdrop for paintings. Don t miss a visit to this bijou seaside resort, which is still just as charming today: stroll along the sea wall promenade, set off on a cliff top walk and catch your breath at the panorama over cliffs and sea and visit Notre-Dame church as well as the covered market, which was rebuilt according to the original architectural plan. Several castles, manor houses and villas are also to be seen in Étretat, whether it is Clos Lupin, Maurice Leblanc s workshop, or the Manoir de la Salamandre or the Villa Orphée, which overlooks the whole of Étretat bay from its hilltop. Twelve kilometres north of Étretat, the village of Yport used to attract different artists Corot, Renoir, Schuffenecker, Laurens, Fourié, Dieterle in the 19 th century, and they often had a residence here. Come and explore the beach which featured in their paintings with its rocks and tall cliffs. Further north but still on the Alabaster Coast, don t miss the charming village of Veules-les-Roses. In the late 1860s it welcomed a whole colony of Russian painters who came to discover painting in the open air like their mentor Isabey. The seaside village is on the Veules, the smallest river in France, which is just a kilometre long! Also go and visit the village of La Bouille situated on The Seine just outside Rouen (see page 48) saint-cénéri-le-gérei A charming village perched on a rocky crag in the Orne Saint-Cénéri-le-Gérei is a little village in the Orne county with a population of just 120 souls, which is well worth a stop even if for just two or three hours. Listed as one of France s prettiest villages, it will doubtless enchant you with its old stone houses covered in wisteria and roses, its Romanesque church with magnificent frescoes from the 12 th and 14 th centuries, and its little stone bridge below which flows the Sarthe. In the 19 th century many painters, such as Gustave Courbet, Jean-Baptiste Corot and Eugène Boudin fell under the charm of the place and brought their easels here to paint. The artists would get together at the inn of the Moisy sisters or at the painters tavern. The former, today in private hands, still has walls covered in portraits, graffiti and silhouettes painted by the artists at this time. As for the latter, where you can have a meal, the innkeeper often used to receive paintings from his clients as payment for their board and lodging. Today Saint-Cénéri is still home to many artists. Explore their studios and galleries, which are open to the public. There are several footpaths around the village. 116 Saint-Cénéri-le-Gerei

34 Claude Monet General View on Rouen from Sainte-Catherine hill, 1892 Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen

35 33 A tour in Normandy and Ile-de-France Tours The Claude Monet Grand Tour Claude Monet lived most of his life in Normandy. He spent his youth in Le Havre where he was schooled in landscape painting by Eugène Boudin and where he painted Impression, Sunrise, the emblematic painting of Impressionism. With his friends Eugène Boudin, Gustave Courbet, Frédéric Bazille and Johan Barthold Jongkind, he got together at the Ferme Saint-Siméon in Honfleur on the Côte Fleurie. On the Alabaster coast, he painted all the cliffs between Dieppe, Fécamp and Étretat and in Rouen he painted his famous series of Cathedrals. And he spent the last forty-three years of his life in Giverny where he completed his greatest series of works, Haystacks, Mornings on the Seine and Water Lilies. The Claude Monet Grand Tour gives you the chance to follow the painter s whole career from his beginnings through to the apotheosis of the Water Lilies, following in his footsteps across Normandy ending with the museums in Paris where his main works are exhibited today. The complete tour takes about a week. We have split it up into six sections which allow you to build shorter programmes, according to the time available to your clients.

36 Claude Monet Flowering Garden at Sainte-Adresse, c.1866 Musée d Orsay, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library

37 1 The beginnings of Claude Monet at Le Havre and Sainte-Adresse Must-sees The MuMa André Malraux Museum of Modern Art, Le Havre The Impressionist walk from Le Havre to Sainte-Adresse Unforgettable experiences The Impressionist cooking workshop at Le Havre 70 To extend your stay The panorama over Le Havre and the bay of the Seine from the heights of Sainte-Adresse A boat tour of the port of Le Havre Claude Monet Grand Quay in Le Havre, 1872 The State Hermitage Museum, Saint-Petersburg The Bridgeman Art Library 2 In Honfleur, at the time of the Saint-Siméon meetings Must-sees The Old Dock in Honfleur 42 The Eugène Boudin Museum, Honfleur 46 Sainte-Catherine church and its bell tower, Honfleur 43 The "Ferme Saint-Siméon", Honfleur 44 Guided tour In the Footsteps of the Painters at Honfleur The boardwalk promenades at Trouville 54 and Deauville 55 The Montebello Museum-villa, Trouville 48 The Impressionists tour, Houlgate 56 Unforgettable experiences A Luncheon on the Grass at the Domaine of Apreval, a cider producer overlooking the sea between Honfleur and Trouville A boat trip on the estuary from Honfleur A meal or overnight stay at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville Claude Monet The Cart, or Road under Snow at Honfleur, 1865 Musée d Orsay, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library To extend your stay Notre-Dame-de-Grâce chapel at Honfleur, with its view over the estuary 41 At Honfleur, the view over the town from the Mont-Joli The Maisons Satie, Honfleur 47 The Salt Warehouses, Honfleur 49 40

38 3 ON THE ALABASTER COAST AT THE TIME OF THE CLIFFS SERIES Must-sees The cliffs of Etretat, near Le Havre 67 The Impressionist collection of the castle museum of Dieppe The Museum at Fécamp, with its 360 panorama over the port and the cliffs 109 The coastal panorama from the church of Saint-Valéry, with its sailors cemetery at Varengeville-sur-Mer 74 The Park of Bois des Moutiers at Varengeville-sur-Mer Unforgettable experiences A sea excursion along the cliffs aboard an old sailboat at Fécamp 115 A guided walk Monet vertigineux (Breathtaking Monet) along the cliffs around Fécamp 112 Impressionist walks along the cliffs around Dieppe To extend your stay A guided tour of Impressionist Etretat 68 The Benedictine Palace, Fécamp 110 Several guided tours on the theme of Impressionism at Fécamp and Dieppe The Jacques-Emile Blanche Museum at Offranville 77 The Jacques-Emile Blanche and the painters of his time tour from Offranville to Dieppe 84 The Shamrock Garden at Varengeville-sur-Mer 86 Ango Manor at Varengeville-sur-Mer 79 Claude Monet Manneporte, Étretat 1885 Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York 4 ROUEN AT THE TIME OF THE CATHEDRALS SERIES Must-sees The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 19 The Impressionist collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Rouen In the Footsteps of the Impressionists guided tour of Rouen 29 Unforgettable experiences The panorama of Rouen and the meander of the Seine from Sainte-Catherine hill, Rouen 18 Paint like Claude Monet workshop, in the artist s former studio facing the cathedral of Notre-Dame, Rouen 33 An Impressionist lunch or dinner in Claude Monet s former studio, in Rouen 34 On summer evenings, the Impressionist light show on the façade of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen Claude Monet Seine at Rouen, 1872 Musée de l Ermitage, Saint-Pétersbourg The Bridgeman Art Library To extend your stay The Great Clock with its Museum of Time and its 360 view over the rooftops of Old Rouen 22 Sunset walk along the banks of the Seine, followed by a drink at the docks, Rouen 35 An Impressionist lunch or dinner in Rouen, inspired by Claude Monet s Carnets de cuisine 37 Near Rouen: the Abbey of Jumièges 20, a walk in the sculpture garden of the Château de Bois-Guilbert 31, the Centre of Contemporary Art of Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville 28

39 5 GIVERNY AT THE TIME OF HAYSTACKS, MORNINGS ON THE SEINE AND THE WATER LILIES SERIES Must-sees Claude Monet s House and Gardens The Museum of Impressionism 5 The Baudy Restaurant 3 Claude Monet s grave 4 Unforgettable experiences A plane flight over the valley of the Impressionists, around Giverny A river trip on the Seine To extend your stay Conferences on Impressionism at the Museum of the Impressionists at Giverny 6 The cultural discovery path, Giverny village 8 The A.G. Poulain Museum, Vernon 7 At Canisses, in a modern guinguette near Giverny, enjoy the Pieds dans l Eau ( Toes in the Water ) terrace, with boats and pedalos for hire, and an Impressionist cruise 15 Château-Gaillard at Les Andelys, with its panoramic view over the meander in the Seine 16 Claude Monet The Rowing Boat, c Musée d Orsay, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library The Claude Monet Grand Tour allows you to follow the painter s complete career, from his beginnings right up to his apotheosis with The Water Lilies 6 IN HONOUR OF CLAUDE MONET IN PARIS Must-sees The Musée de l Orangerie 118 The Musée d Orsay 117 The Musée Marmottan-Monet 119 Claude Monet Water Lilies: Morning, Paris, Musée de l Orangerie Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library

40 Claude Monet Water Lilies, Musee Marmottan-Monet, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library

41 39 A tour in Normandy and Ile-de-France Tours Claude Monet's Water Lilies The Water Lilies series forms Monet s most important pictorial work, stretching over more than a quarter of a century. Apart from the huge mural fresco that he left to the French nation in 1918, which can be admired at the Musée de l Orangerie in Paris, he completed about five hundred canvases at Giverny representing his famous lily pond. They can be found today in the world s greatest art museums. This tour is a discovery of the Water Lilies or Nympheas, combining visits to Claude Monet s house and gardens, which the artist himself created, and from which he drew his inspiration, and the Musée de l Orangerie, specially laid out to Monet s plans to accommodate his monumental fresco, giving the illusion of a whole without end, of a wave without horizons or shores. The full tour ideally requires two days, but it is possible to complete this in a single day if you leave early in the morning.

42 Claude Monet Water Lilies: Morning, Musee de l'orangerie, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library Must-sees Claude Monet s house and gardens, Giverny The Museum of Impressionism, Giverny 5 The Musée de l Orangerie, Paris 118 The Musée Marmottan-Monet, Paris To extend your stay The Baudy restaurant, Giverny 3 The Restaurant des Nymphéas, Giverny 17 Conferences on Impressionism at the Museum of Impressionism, Giverny 6 Claude Monet s grave, Giverny 4 The A.G Poulain Museum, Vernon 7 The artist completed some five hundred paintings depicting his famous water lily pond at Giverny Claude Monet in his garden, ca Musee Clemenceau, Paris / Archives Charmet / The Bridgeman Art Library

43 Suggested Itinerary Start the day by visiting the Musée de l Orangerie in Paris, where the Water Lilies fresco is exhibited. After this, head for Giverny. Stop for lunch at the Baudy restaurant, where a colony of American artists lived in Claude Monet s time. Set aside the afternoon for visiting Monet s house and gardens: it was here that Monet began his Water Lilies series in 1895, and here - in a specially designed studio - starting in that he undertook the great fresco on show at the Musée de l Orangerie. Don t miss the temporary exhibitions at the Museum of Impressionism, or the chance to wander through the village. Did you know? Water Lilies are the result of cross breeding wild white water lilies with exotic coloured varieties. As a great lover of botany, Claude Monet discovered this new variety while visiting The Paris Universal Exhibition of Claude Monet donated his great fresco Water Lilies to the French nation in 1918 to commemorate the end of the war, choosing the Musée de l Orangerie as their permanent home. With the support of his friend, Georges Clemenceau, he designed the exhibition space himself, and today eight of his compositions - each 2m (6½ ft) high - hang on the walls of two oval rooms. Claude Monet Water Lilies at Midday, 1918 Buhrle Collection, Zurich The Bridgeman Art Library

44 Claude Monet Rouen Cathedral, Effects of Sunlight, Sunset, Musée Marmottan,-Monet, Paris Giraudon / The Bridgeman Art Library

45 43 A tour in Normandy and Ile-de-France Tours Claude Monet's Cathedrals Together with the Water Lilies, the Cathedrals make up one of Claude Monet s great series. Fascinated by the changing light, the artist completed twenty-eight canvases showing the façade of Rouen cathedral at different hours of the day. These works are now housed in the greatest art museums worldwide. This original tour combines guided visits to the Musée d Orsay and Rouen Fine Arts museum, focusing on their fabulous Impressionist collections, which include four of Monet s Cathedrals, together with a guided tour of Rouen, centred on the sites depicted by Monet, Pissarro, Gauguin, and their Impressionist friends. A unique tour, bringing together the charms of two cities. The complete tour ideally requires two days, but it is possible in a single day if you leave early in the morning.

46 Suggested Itinerary Like Monet, you will start your tour of Rouen from Sainte-Catherine hill. Follow this with a visit to the cathedral, one of the city s star attractions, and then discover the Impressionist collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts. Fascinated by the changing light, the artist completed twenty-eight canvases of the façade of Rouen cathedral The Museum has on display a Cathedral and a General View of Rouen by Monet. Have lunch facing the cathedral, in Claude Monet s former studio. In the same spot, join in the Paint like Monet workshop and introduce yourself to Impressionist painting by taking the cathedral as your model. Then you will leave for Paris where you can discover the Impressionist collection at the Musée d Orsay, and admire three depictions of Rouen cathedral on exhibition there. Must-sees The cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 19 The Impressionist collection at the Musée des Beaux-Arts of Rouen 21 In the Footsteps of the Impressionists a guided tour of Rouen 29 The Musée d Orsay, Paris 117 Unforgettable experiences The panorama of Rouen and the meander in the Seine from Sainte-Catherine hill 18 On summer evenings, the Impressionist light show on the facade of the cathedral 36 Paint like Claude Monet workshop, in the artist s former studio facing the cathedral of Notre-Dame, Rouen 33 An Impressionist lunch or dinner in Claude Monet s former studio, in Rouen 34 Claude Monet Rouen Cathedral, Afternoon, Musée d'orsay, Paris RMN-Grand Palais / photo : Thierry Le Mage

47 The impressionist show on the Rouen Cathedral façade Photo J.F. Lange / Normandy Tourist Board

48 Henri Lebasque Boat trip, Les Andelys, 1915 Musée de Grenoble

49 47 A tour in Normandy and Ile-de-France Tours The Seine of the Impressionists, from Paris to the sea Follow the Seine of the Impressionists, from Paris to the estuary. With its languid meanders, its everchanging reflections and its pearly light, the Seine Valley - from Paris to Honfleur - was frequently painted by the Impressionists. Eugène Boudin and Claude Monet even lived near the river s edge. During their time, an age of industrialisation, the landscapes of the river were changing rapidly, with the appearance of metal bridges and factory chimneys. Attitudes were changing with the major developments in society of the time and lead to the growth of leisure time and of open-air waterside refreshment stops - the famous "guinguettes". On both sides of the river, numerous sites bear testament to these times: don t miss places of historic interest, recently created leisure areas, "guinguettes", river excursions, plane flights, museums and gardens waiting to be discovered, as well as many walks. This tour can be approached in different ways. One possibility is as a single journey from Paris to the coast, in which case allow a minimum of four or five days to discover all there is to see. Alternatively, it can be split into several stages, including for example the section Paris-Rouen, or Rouen-Honfleur: count on two or three full days for each leg of the journey. The richness and diversity of the sites around the Seine are suitable for a tour of several days, according to the time available, and personal preferences.

50 1 With its languid meanders, its ever-changing reflections, and its pearly light, the Seine Valley was frequently painted by the Impressionists. From Paris to Giverny and Rouen Must-sees The Musée d Orsay, Paris 117 The Musée de l Orangerie, Paris 118 The Musée Marmottan-Monet, Paris 119 Claude Monet s house and gardens, Giverny 2 The Museum of Impressionism, Giverny 5 The cathedral Notre-Dame of Rouen 19 The Impressionist collection of the Musée des Beaux-Arts, Rouen 21 In the Footsteps of the Impressionists a guided tour of Rouen 29 Unforgettable experiences 2 Impressions of Paris cruise 124 A river excursion on the Seine, around Giverny At Les Canisses, in a modern guinguette near Giverny, enjoy the Pieds dans l Eau ( Toes in the Water ) terrace, with boats and pedalos for hire, and an Impressionist cruise 15 A plane flight over the valley of the Impressionists, around Giverny 10 Paint like Claude Monet workshop, in the artist s former studio facing the cathedral of Notre-Dame, Rouen 33 An Impressionist lunch or dinner in Claude Monet s former studio, in Rouen 34 On summer evenings, the Impressionist light show on the façade of the cathedral of Notre-Dame de Rouen 36 From Rouen to Honfleur and Le Havre Must-sees The Old Dock of Honfleur 42 The Eugène Boudin Museum, Honfleur 46 The MuMa André Malraux Museum of Modern Art, Le Havre The Impressionist walk from Le Havre to Sainte-Adresse 64 Guided tour In the Footsteps of Painters at Honfleur 50 Unforgettable experiences 63 To extend your stay Château-Gaillard at Les Andelys, with its panoramic view over the meander in the Seine 16 The A.G Poulain Museum, Vernon 7 The panorama of Rouen and the meander in the Seine from Sainte-Catherine hill, Rouen 18 La Bouille, an artists village 30 Boat excursion in the Seine estuary, from Honfleur Notre-Dame de Grâce chapel at Honfleur, with its view over the estuary 41 A luncheon on the grass at the Domaine of Apreval, a cider producer overlooking the sea near Honfleur 60 Gastronomic dinner and overnight stay at the Ferme Saint-Siméon, Honfleur 44 Impressionist cooking workshop, Le Havre 70 Crossing the Pont de Normandie (Normandy Bridge) and its panorama across the mouth of the Seine 59 A meal or overnight stay at the Hotel Normandy, Deauville 61 To extend your stay A guided tour of the village of La Bouille, near Rouen 30 A cruise to La Bouille 39 The Abbey of Jumièges 20 The Victor Hugo Museum at Villequier, by the Seine 27 Harfleur, a medieval town close to Le Havre 66 The Centre of Contemporary Art of Saint-Pierre-de-Varengeville 28 Impressionist itineraries prepared by the Seine-Maritime Tourist Board 32 Sisley and Lebourg came and set up their easels in this charming village at the gates of Rouen, as well as at Sahurs on the opposite bank of the Seine.The village retains the memory of the age when the people of Rouen would congregate here, brought along the river by steamboats to take lunch in the fine hostelries, wander through the alleyways and dance in the guinguettes. Numerous art galleries and fine restaurants. La Bouille is also an excellent stop for groups, being just a few minutes from an exit off the A13 motorway from Paris. Crossing the Seine by ferry will delight your clients. Relaxation guaranteed! 38