This route invites you to explore the gardens of serene Norman villages. From Bois-Guilbert to Giverny, it will lead you to discover unique green spaces where contemporary art engages in dialogue with the Impressionist legacy. Follow this suggested itinerary, at the crossroads of nature and art, and discover the events of the Normandy Impressionist Festival.
Stage 1
You can start in Bois-Guilbert, a village that is famous for its beautiful sculpture garden and its sculptures. With its blend of art and nature, it is the setting for an unforgettable walk.
On site, as part of the Normandy Impressionist Festival, you can discover three exhibitions:
A Garden of Impressionist Painters in Bois-Guilbert (a series of 20 bronze busts of emblematic painters of the Impressionist era),
The Impressionist Gardens of the Rouen School (a unique exhibition of paintings by emblematic painters of this school),
The Uniqueness of Colour (an exhibition of works by Caroline Coppey, an artist who wrote a thesis on Claude Monet).
On September 13, nearby, you can also attend the Buzz concert – Electrosonic concerts in the garden in Sommery, a proposal that brings together natural landscapes and electroacoustic music.
Stage 2
Then you can head to Lyons-la-Forêt to discover a contemporary art trail in the picturesque streets of the village: Les Jardins en dialogues – Contemporary Art in Lyons-la-Forêt.
This project invites you to rediscover the village through the works of Tanja Smeets, Florian Mermin and Rasmus Myrup. They create a dialogue between heritage and the living world by transforming a walk in the village into a poetic and surprising experience.
Stage 3
Head to Giverny to explore this iconic Impressionist location, where Claude Monet lived for the last forty years of his life. You can visit Claude Monet's house and explore the gardens, where you can admire the famous Water Lily Pond, the Japanese bridges, and the flowerbeds that inspired his great series of paintings. Then, travel through the town to reach the Musée des Impressionismes.
Then walk through the city to reach the Musée des Impressionismes. As part of the Festival Normandie Impressioniste, you can discover the exhibition Plantations, in situ works, 2026 by Daniel Buren, an new creation in dialogue with the garden and the museum's collections.
