"Mainly Monet" Itinerary

Your captain will meet you at your Paris hotel. You will be escorted to La Chouette waiting for you at a nearby quay on the river Seine. Soon you will be cruising through the city of Paris, sipping champagne and soaking in the wonderful atmosphere.

As we head out of Paris we pass Asnieres and Argenteuil, names immortalised by the Impressionist painters like Monet and Renoir. Our mooring for tonight is at the very place these famous artists would meet for rest and relaxation. Maison Fournaise at Chatou was their favourite restaurant, and this is where you will enjoy your first evening meal of the cruise.

Breakfast is a relaxed affair on board La Chouette. The coffee pot will be on, the croissants warming, but feel free to join us in your own time. You are on holiday!

La Grenouillere (The Froggery!) is where we pause after a short early morning cruise. It was here that Monet and Renoir worked side by side painting the floating cafe. We carry on as far as Bougival to see where other Impressionists set up their easels and compare the view today with the one they painted. Some say Impressionism was born here.

We then take the van to visit the Marmottan museum where over 100 of Monet's paintings are housed. Here you will also see work by most of the other Impressionists like Renoir, Sisley and Caillebotte. There was a great friendship amongst this school of artists and Monet worked alongside many of them during his lifetime.

Lunch is at the bustling restaurant Chez Clement after which we cruise to Conflans Ste.Honorine at the confluence of the Seine and Oise rivers. We moor a little outside the town at a peaceful country village where we can enjoy a barbecue on deck.

Our cruising area today takes us further up the river Oise to Auvers - sur - Oise where Van Gogh lived and which he introduced to the world through his painting "L'Eglise d'Auvers" (Auvers Church).

Van Gogh spent his last days painting at the Auberge Ravoux. This is where we have lunch and visit the fascinating museum dedicated to him. A short distance away is the Chateau d'Auvers where we take a multi-media journey back in time into the Age of the Impressionists.

We then return to La Chouette and cruise down river to Conflans Ste. Honorine where we rejoin the river Seine and moor for the night.

An early start this morning to visit the local bargees street market and stroll along the quay to see the many barges moored here, up to seven abreast.

We will cruise to Limay and then take the van through some stunning countryside to Le Moulin de Fourges for lunch. This afternoon we visit Monets home and garden at Giverny plus the American museum of Art. Later we will have supper on board.

Our first cruise stop today is Mantes - la - Jolie. Free time to take a short walking tour of the town and visit the 12th century Collegiate Church "Notre Dame" which is one of the most beautiful examples of gothic architecture. We then cruise to Rolleboise where we have lunch on board.

Chateau de la Roche Guyon, parts of which are hidden in the depths of the cliff face, is this afternoons visit. All along here the caves, hollowed out by pre-historic man, are now used as barns and garages.

We can also visit Vetheuil, another of Monets' homes.

Dinner tonight is at the splendid restaurant of the Chateau de la Corniche which, as its name suggests, is poised high above the Seine with a fantastic panoramic view.

This mornings cruise is to the beautiful town of Les Andelys nestling under the impressive ruins of Chateau Gaillard built by Richard the Lionheart. After lunch on board we visit the stunning village of

Lyon La Foret and Chateau Vascoeuil with its marvelous sculptures. Dinner at Le Mistral.

Depart after breakfast and on the way to Rouen railway station we make one long and lasting visit to Rouen Cathedral. No "Monet Experience" would be complete without this. During 1892 and 1893 Monet painted many versions of this subject, more or less from the same angle, but under different light conditions which make the changing forms all the more striking.

back to top

Last updated on 22/05/04