This journey through Normandy offers a chance to take in the landscapes behind the easels. Few regions in the world are so synonymous with a school of painting. Monet, Caillebotte, Sisley, Manet, Renoir and so many others created Impressionism in this area, such was their fascination with the light, the expanses of sky and the bucolic settings. Even though their masterpieces are nowadays scattered around the world's finest museums, anyone can come here to view the scenery that they loved and painted so much. Didn't Claude Monet say of the shoreline at Honfleur : "Every day I see something new and more beautiful here, so much so it's enough to drive one mad!"
Hotel and restaurant in town. In the 16th arrondissement of the French capital, Saint James Paris lovingly cultivates a world of unmatched refinement and art de vivre. Close to the Arc de Triomphe and Avenue Foch, this exceptional hotel reveals a discreet character imbued with pastoral charm and an aura unlike any other. Graced with 5,000 square metres of greenery, it holds court amidst marvellous gardens made all the more remarkable by the landscape designer Xavier de Chirac. This former private mansion is now bridging its romantic neoclassical soul with modernity, thanks to the talents of interior designer Laura Gonzalez, who has achieved a perfect symbiosis of plant life and art deco. The decorative contrasts exhibit a rare elegance, as evidenced by the fifty rooms and suites which are at once chic and poetic, grandiose and intimate. At the Bellefeuille gourmet restaurant, Chef Grégory Garimbay pays tribute to French gastronomy and the richness of its terroirs by honouring the raw produce he works with sincerity and passion. A stay at the Saint James Paris is a true parenthesis of well-being, which is confirmed in the Guerlain spa: a world of relaxation, with areas dedicated to treatments, a hammam, a sauna, a Jacuzzi, a fitness room and an indoor pool bathed in natural light.
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Two minutes from the most beautiful avenue in the world, at the corner of two quiet streets in the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the Hotel Balzac Paris is located in an elegant building from the beginning of the last century. Previously on this location was a 19th-century property which once belonged to the famous French writer Honoré de Balzac. In order to reinvent the Balzac with Parisian elegance, Charlotte de Tonnac and Hugo Sauzay from the Festen architectural studio, have deployed noble materials and created an intimate atmosphere. “Le Balzac perpetuates a timeless Parisian heritage through its classicism. It’s a place full of atmosphere, with a history that we have respected and extended. You have to experience this place to understand it,” say the architects. 1930s-inspired décor adorns the communal lounge, lit by a large glass roof, as well as the rooms and suites, some of which offer views of the Eiffel Tower. After exploring the city, a Japanese spa provides a calming break, offering a hammam or a traditional massage.
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Hotel in town. Some places embody the soul of a city, of a mythical neighbourhood. This is the case of the Relais Christine, a luxurious boutique hotel with an ultra central location on the Left Bank in Paris. In Saint-Germain-des-Prés, this is the ideal place for a staycation or Parisian city getaway. Guests come here to soak up the capital as immortalised by the illustrious figures of the Latin Quarter. From the street, this private home looks like the perfect secret hideaway with its small paved courtyard, its swings and ivy climbing up its walls. Designed by interior designer Laura Gonzalez, the decor of this former mansion brilliantly combines antiques with touches of modernity. Most of the 48 rooms and suites feature high ceilings, and all are adorned with magnificent wallpaper and original fabrics. Some of them even boast terraces directly overlooking a garden, making the Relais Christine a lush setting, a unique haven of peace, only a few minutes’ walk from the banks of the Seine and Notre-Dame Cathedral. And for an exclusive moment of wellness, the Guerlain Spa and its sauna await under the vaults of a former 13th-century Cistercian abbey — an enchanting setting for enjoying lavishly wonderful treatments.
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In the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, in the magnificent setting of a pavilion dating back to Napoleon III with ceiling friezes by Caran d'Ache, Chef Frédéric Anton, MOF (Best Craftsman of France) serves a cuisine which is both subtle and generous. He reveals the best of his ingredients, teasing out...
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Relais & Châteaux Pierre Gagnaire
Located just off the Champs-Élysées, in the heart of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the Pierre Gagnaire restaurant invites guests into a universe designed by Marcelo Joulia, whose decor provides the perfect accent to the spirit of purity and elegance of the main room. This exquisite ambience is enhanced...
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Relais & Châteaux Lucas Carton
This historic restaurant in Place de la Madeleine has seen leading Chefs since the 18th-century. In succeeding Alain Senderens, Julien Dumas has carried on the tradition of accessible and democratised fine dining, constantly changing and striving for the ideal food-wine pairing. He serves a modern, inventive...
In the heart of the Bois de Boulogne, in the magnificent setting of a pavilion dating back to Napoleon III with ceiling friezes by Caran d'Ache, Chef Frédéric Anton, MOF (Best Craftsman of France) serves a cuisine which is both subtle and generous. He reveals the best of his ingredients, teasing out...
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Relais & Châteaux Pierre Gagnaire
Located just off the Champs-Élysées, in the heart of the 8th arrondissement of Paris, the Pierre Gagnaire restaurant invites guests into a universe designed by Marcelo Joulia, whose decor provides the perfect accent to the spirit of purity and elegance of the main room. This exquisite ambience is enhanced...
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On the route
Argenteuil, the cradle of Impressionism
First thoughts of Argenteuil bring to mind the famous paintings of bridges and poppy fields by Monet. This was also the birthplace of the Association of Impressionist Painters in 1873. A place where painters would congregate, in close proximity to the capital. Renoir and Caillebotte depicted sailboats...
Hotel and restaurant in town. Just a short distance from central Paris, in Ville-d'Avray, Les Étangs de Corot invites guests to unwind in a picturesque and verdant setting. This exceptional hotel, famous as a historic guinguette tavern, is flanked by a forest and ponds, lending it a special aura that feels like a step back in time. Favored by painter Camille Corot, whose former home still stands nearby, and visited by many other celebrated writers and painters, its rooms and suites are elegantly decorated in the style of an artist’s studio, with designs that reflect its remarkable gardens. A charming place to stay for couples or families, Les Étangs de Corot is renowned for its relaxed approach to life–its spa, Les Bains de Corot, is the perfect place for rejuvenation. With a terrace that opens directly onto the garden, Le Café des Artistes offers authentic, gourmet cooking, while Le Corot restaurant invites you to enjoy the delicious cuisine of Chef Rémi Chambard, whose gastronomy is inspired by the surrounding nature.
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Located in outbuildings of the Château Chanorier in Croissy-sur-Seine, the small Musée de la Grenouillère was once a tavern frequented by Renoir and Monet, who included it in several of their works. Today, you can see copies of canvases that they painted on site as well as engravings and paintings by...
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Musée Fournaise, Chatou
It is on the aptly named Île des Impressionnistes, in Chatou, that you will find the Musée Fournaise. Located on the banks of the Seine, this famous guinguette, or tavern, was depicted by Renoir in his famous Déjeuner des canotiers (1880). At that time, Maupassant, Degas, Monet and Caillebote all frequented...
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Musée de la Grenouillère, Croissy-sur-Seine
Located in outbuildings of the Château Chanorier in Croissy-sur-Seine, the small Musée de la Grenouillère was once a tavern frequented by Renoir and Monet, who included it in several of their works. Today, you can see copies of canvases that they painted on site as well as engravings and paintings by...
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Musée Fournaise, Chatou
It is on the aptly named Île des Impressionnistes, in Chatou, that you will find the Musée Fournaise. Located on the banks of the Seine, this famous guinguette, or tavern, was depicted by Renoir in his famous Déjeuner des canotiers (1880). At that time, Maupassant, Degas, Monet and Caillebote all frequented...
Hotel and restaurant in the country. Just an hour away from Paris, the Domaine de Primard beckons you to the heart of its 40-hectare grounds. Its gardens, designed by Jacques Wirtz, are home to over 250 varieties of rose and a collection of rare trees. Highland cows, Ouessant sheep, horses, ducks and geese fill the landscape with life. Enjoy chef's cuisine with three different experiences: Les Chemins, the gourmet restaurant; Martin, the Hotel’s second restaurant; and the Table d’Hôtes. The kitchens are stocked by Domaine's permaculture vegetable garden. Meanwhile, the spa offers—for the first time in France—the natural spa treatments developed by Susanne Kaufmann.
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This is the location of Claude Monet’s house and gardens, the place which so inspired the great painter. Thanks to the remarkable work of the gardeners to preserve the botanical heritage, visitors can discover the atmosphere which surrounded the artist at the end of the 19th century. Giverny is the birthplace...
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On the route
Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral - a Gothic icon
It took three centuries (12th-15th) to build one of France's finest Gothic cathedrals in Rouen. With its lantern tower rising high above, in 1876 it was still the tallest building in the world! Its international reputation was sealed by Monet, who painted it in 28 works. In recent years, the painter's...
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Moulin d’Andé, The Mill at Andé
Designated as a historic monument and completely restored, the mill at Andé has been playing host to musicians and strollers for over fifty years. Numerous violin and piano recitals are given each year in this relaxing, bucolic setting. Don’t miss taking a walk in the vast grounds.
Normandy Impressionist Festival
Launched in 2010, this amazing festival featuring a rich programme of events in this region themed around the Impressionists. In Rouen, we discovered a wonderful exhibition entitled: "The Impressionists' City: Monet, Gauguin and Pissarro in Rouen". It has been a hit success and each year follows...
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Notre-Dame de Rouen Cathedral - a Gothic icon
It took three centuries (12th-15th) to build one of France's finest Gothic cathedrals in Rouen. With its lantern tower rising high above, in 1876 it was still the tallest building in the world! Its international reputation was sealed by Monet, who painted it in 28 works. In recent years, the painter's...
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Moulin d’Andé, The Mill at Andé
Designated as a historic monument and completely restored, the mill at Andé has been playing host to musicians and strollers for over fifty years. Numerous violin and piano recitals are given each year in this relaxing, bucolic setting. Don’t miss taking a walk in the vast grounds.
Hotel and restaurant on the seafront. Once a refuge for impressionist painters, La Ferme Saint-Siméon is celebrated for its bucolic surroundings and beautiful Seine estuary light. Monet and Courbet would come here and work on their colours, and Baudelaire would flee the melancholy of Paris in search of inspiration. The farm, close to the old harbour of Honfleur and the Eugène-Boudin Museum, has now been restored throughout and provides relaxing treatments based on organic ingredients such as milk and Normandy apples. “Oh, Saint-Siméon”, exclaimed the painter Eugène Boudin in one of his journals. Indeed it is hard not to love the place, and even harder to leave it behind.
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Hotel in town. Home to Henri de Saint-Delis during the last century, the painter’s soulful spirit lives on in this private mansion located in Honfleur, Normandy — a city whose pictorial sensibility is apparent in the property’s elegant garden and rooms of noble materials, bespoke furniture and steam showers. Art, in its most authentic and singular form, is found everywhere here: in the wood, the stone, the marble. Each element adds to this living painting whose beauty is sublimated by the natural light that illuminates every corner. Sitting in the heart of the historic district, the hotel’s timeless character and intimate atmosphere offer a marvellous portal to explore the local cultural heritage of this emblematic city. From the picturesque houses and small streets to the many art galleries and traditional restaurants near the port, your days will surely be filled with wonderment and a renewed sense of happiness.
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You could be misled by the name of this museum. The modern art museum that André Malraux inaugurated in 1961 houses one of the finest Impressionist collections in France. Works by Eugène Boudin meet those of Pissarro, Renoir and Manet. There are also canvases by Van Dongen, Vallotton and De Staël. All...
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The Musée Eugène Boudin collection, Honfleur
Less than a ten minute walk from the hotel, the Musée Eugène Boudin – named after the forerunner of Impressionism – reveals one of the region's finest collections of paintings. Born in Honfleur in 1824, Eugène Boudin was a stationer who reinvented himself as a painter and whom his close friend Camille...
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Étretat: Cliffs and Light
This is one of the painters' preferred landscapes: Étretat and its famous white chalk cliffs have in turn inspired Eugène Delacroix, Gustave Courbet and Claude Monet. The latter had a real fascination for this carved section of coastline and painted 75 canvases here, including some 50 in the winter of...
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The sweet madness of the Maisons Satie, Honfleur
Honfleur is famous for its little harbour, cobbled streets and old mansions. It is also the birthplace of celebrated musician Erik Satie. The houses named after him offer a wonderful scenography and musical journey that conjure up the genius and "crazy" sides to the artist. Headphones on, you walk through...
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The Ferme Saint-Siméon, refuge of the Impressionist painters
The seaside Ferme Saint-Siméon has long been the refuge of Impressionist painters. Everyone knew how to find it and artists enjoyed the hospitality of the maternal Madame Toutain. Monet and Courbet loved the romantic surroundings as well as the beautiful estuary light. They would both practise their...
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Musée d’art moderne André Malraux, Le Havre
You could be misled by the name of this museum. The modern art museum that André Malraux inaugurated in 1961 houses one of the finest Impressionist collections in France. Works by Eugène Boudin meet those of Pissarro, Renoir and Manet. There are also canvases by Van Dongen, Vallotton and De Staël. All...
Read Moreless
The Musée Eugène Boudin collection, Honfleur
Less than a ten minute walk from the hotel, the Musée Eugène Boudin – named after the forerunner of Impressionism – reveals one of the region's finest collections of paintings. Born in Honfleur in 1824, Eugène Boudin was a stationer who reinvented himself as a painter and whom his close friend Camille...
**Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges.
Total price communicated as an indication, based on a stay of the number of nights recommended on this webpage, taking place in the next 3 months, and based on double occupancy (excluding recommended activities, excluding properties not bookable online).
Reservation Service
To give you inspiration, Relais & Châteaux presents the Routes du Bonheur:
Suggestions for travel itineraries that you can fully personalise according to your wishes and the experiences you would like to discover. Our consultants are available to help customise your route and assist you in making reservations at our properties. It is up to you to reserve any recommended activities on-site or nearby that might interest you.
** Offer cannot be combined, valid for an itinerary in at least 2 different Relais & Châteaux establishments, reserved with Relais & Châteaux concierges, discount applicable on certain rates and certain establishments. List available from our concierges. Call our concierge to tailormade your booking and itinerary*. *Price of a local call
From Paris to Honfleur, following in the footsteps of the great Impressionists
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