This route invites you to discover Rouen, the capital of Normandy and a major source of inspiration for many Impressionists such as Monet, Pissarro, and Sisley, whose works are notably housed in the Museum of Fine Arts. Follow in the footsteps of the artists as you stroll through the city's narrow streets, and let yourself be carried away by the program of the sixth edition of the Normandy Impressionist Festival.
A city of art and culture, Rouen is also renowned for its gastronomy and holds the title of "Creative City" awarded by UNESCO — the only one in France to benefit from it in this field.
Day 1
If you're visiting Rouen in July or August, start your tour at the train station, where you can discover Jacques Perconte. An iconic landmark of the city, Rouen's train station, built in an eclectic style blending Art Nouveau influences, has been listed as a historical monument since 1975.
Discover the free permanent exhibitions at the Museum of Fine Arts, featuring a considerable collection of Impressionist paintings, including part of Claude Monet's Rouen Cathedral series. The museum also houses the exhibition " Under the Rain: Painting, Living and Dreaming," which presents 150 works inviting reflection on the representation of rain from the late 18th century to today's climate challenges.
Next, head to the former Sainte-Croix-des-Pelletiers church to discover an immersive creation of luminous mechanical flowers by Studio DRIFT, Meadow, a hanging garden.
Day 2
Take a stroll through Rouen's historic center and let its iconic monuments guide you. Head to the Place du Vieux-Marché and the Sainte-Jeanne-d'Arc church, admire the Gros-Horloge, then continue on to the Saint-Maclou church.
A stroll through the heart of a remarkable heritage, where each step tells a part of the city's history.
Visit the Photographic Centre for the exhibition "From Nature" by Sarah Moon. Discover the Aître Saint-Maclou; built in 1526, this former cemetery is now the venue for the exhibition of Janaina Tschäpe, an artist creating paintings where outlines dissolve and colours seem to be in motion.
End the day in front of Rouen Cathedral, immortalized several times in Monet's paintings, to admire the dynamic and colorful world of Mika Ninagawa on the facade with the projection Cathedral of Light: Wild Blossom.
Day 3
On foot or by public transport, cross the Seine on the left bank and head to the FRAC for an exhibition The sunflower is the flower of the Roma by Ceija Stojka, an Austrian Roma and self-taught artist whose paintings are intimately linked to her personal history.
Continue your journey with an afternoon at the Jardin des Plantes, an iconic place that Monet frequented for pleasure but also to select plants for his garden at Giverny.
Continue this immersion in the heart of the plant world at the Grand-Quevilly Rose Garden, where you can discover an open-air exhibition of photographs by Mika Ninagawa.
To go further, head to the Maison Papier – Centre hospitalier du Rouvray for a monographic exhibition by Gwenn Mérel which invites you to explore landscapes through her textile and drawn works.
