If you're a fan of Impressionist art, and are planning a trip to France, you'll not want to miss the chance to catch a glimpse of the towns and sites that inspired this artistic movement.
During your train trip across France, you’ll marvel at the landscapes, sunrises, sunsets, and harbors that inspired painters like Claude Monet, Eugène Boudin, Camille Pissarro, Berthe Morisot, Paul Cézanne, and many others.
These artists pioneered painting their impressions of real outdoor scenes, rather than the exact reality, all while experimenting with varying light and color throughout the day and across different seasons.
Here's a selection of some of the most famous locations in France that inspired the Impressionist painters. Many of them are an easy train ride from Paris. Pick your favorites or consider bundling up a few and embarking on a trip to Normandy.
Image Credit: Getty Images, SCStock. Image Location: Rouen Cathedral, Rouen, Normandy, France
Where did the Impressionists paint in France?
Giverny
Paris St-Lazare to Vernon—Giverny: from 49m
The house in Giverny, Northwestern France, where Monet lived and painted from 1883 to 1926, is now a museum run by the Fondation Monet.
The main attractions include the gardens and the water-lily pond, both designed by Monet, which served as inspiration to his artwork. Monet would produce over 250 paintings of these water lilies!
After contemplating the beauty of Monet’s gardens, head down the road to the Impressionism Museum in Giverny for some more Impressionist artworks.
Rouen
Paris St-Lazare to Rouen-Rive-Droite: from 1h 14m
The capital of Normandy, Rouen is also known as the capital of Impressionism, and the city’s majestic Gothic Cathedral is an iconic symbol of Impressionist art.
Monet painted more than 30 different views of Rouen Cathedral while studying the effect of changing light over one subject. Seven of these paintings are in France. One of them can be found in the Rouen Museum of Fine Arts, which holds one of the largest collections of Impressionist art outside Paris.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Bettina Lichtenberg. Image Location: Étretat, Normandy, France
Le Havre
Paris St-Lazare to Le Havre: from 2h 6m
This major port city is where Monet grew up and where he painted Impression, Sunrise (1872), the artwork that eventually gave a name to the Impressionist movement.
If possible, try to catch the sunrise by the port and wander around the area to fully immerse yourself in the experience—just like an Impressionist would.
The Museum of Modern Art André Malraux has the second biggest collection of Impressionist art in France, after the Musée d’Orsay in Paris, so be sure to pay a visit.
Étretat
From Paris by bus: from 3h 5m
Étretat’s white chalk cliffs of the Côte d'Albâtre (Alabaster Coast) captivated Monet so much that he created over 20 paintings of the cliffs.
The beaches, high chalk cliffs, and other angles of what used to be a small fishing village, were also painted by Morisot, Boudin, and Pissarro.
Image Credit: Getty Images, Yann Guichaoua-Photos. Image Location: Honfleur, Normandy, France
Honfleur
From Paris by bus: from 3h
Honfleur is considered the birthplace of Impressionism. Its old harbor and boats were the main inspiration for Honfleur-born artist Boudin, who introduced Monet to the act of en plein air (painting outdoors).
Walk to the Port of Honfleur, or the Vieux Bassin, and contemplate the view. You'll be able to recognize its tall and thin buildings from some of Boudin and Monet's work.
If time allows, Musée Eugène Boudin holds a collection of paintings from the 19th and 20th centuries, including paintings of the town, as well as works bequeathed by Boudin to Honfleur.
Auvers-sur-Oise
Auvers-sur-Oise’s landscapes and lighting have inspired several Impressionist artists, including Cézanne and Pissarro.
Outside of this movement, it was also a favorite of artists Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot and Vincent van Gogh, the latter who spent his final 70 days in this French commune on the outskirts of Paris.
The most direct route there from Paris by train is to take the H train on the Transilien suburban network from Paris Gare du Nord to Valmondois. Once you get there, swap platforms for another H train towards Pontoise. Auvers-sur-Oise is the first station following the connection, and in total the journey should take around an hour.
Pick up a map at the tourist office and retrace the footsteps of these painters. Informative panels are found along the route, identifying the original views of the painters, alongside their corresponding works.
Impressed?
If you're ready to make your artistic pilgrimage, download the Trainline app to book European train tickets hassle-free on your smartphone. Looking for other things to do in Normandy? WWII history buffs won't want to miss the D-Day beaches and our guide to how to get there by train.
Header Image Credit: Getty Images, Franz Marc Frei. Image Location: Monet's Pond, Giverny, Normandy, France