From the banks of the Seine to Montmartre with Renoir

Our journey begins on the banks of the Seine with a homage to the master!

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Explore Paris Region’s Impressionist heritage
From the banks of the Seine to Montmartre with Renoir

With the advent of the railways, the riverside became a hotspot for Paris revellers and a source of inspiration for the Impressionist painters, not least Renoir.

All summer long, dances, open-air cafés and cruises will be organised between Chatou and Bougival to mark the centenary of the artist’s death.

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In Chatou, which Renoir dubbed “the prettiest place in the outskirts of Paris”, the famous Maison Fournaise invites you to recreate Luncheon of the Boating Party with a meal on its superb terrace overlooking the Seine.

The enchanting setting immortalised in that masterpiece has not changed a bit!

Continue with a visit to the adjacent museum, which celebrates the joys of boating.

Then, follow the Impressionist trail, lined with reproductions of various paintings, and admire the landscapes that inspired them.

After the banks of the Seine, it’s time to head to Montmartre, immortalised in the illustrious painting Dance at the Moulin de la Galette. Step inside the Musée de Montmartre, which conjures up images of the village’s heyday on the very site where the artist had his studio.

In the Renoir Gardens next to the museum, you can admire the swing that inspired his painting of the same name.

If you wish, you can then continue their journey with 4 roues sous 1 parapluie, taking an Impressionist spin around Paris in a convertible 2CV.

Having explored the settings that inspired the artist, it is time to look at his work itself. Don’t miss the superb Impressionist gallery at the Musée d’Orsay, which is home to some of Renoir’s most famous paintings, including Dance at the Moulin de la Galette and The Swing.