Impressionist Reflections Along the Seine (port-to-port cruise)

This morning you will embark on a visit to Caudebec-en-Caux and MuséoSeine (1). Immerse yourself in the history and culture of the region by visiting the charming village of Caudebec-en-Caux, located on the banks of the Seine. Start your exploration with a stroll through its picturesque streets, where traditional Normandy architecture blends with the fascinating history of the territory. Continue to MuséoSeine, which, beyond exploring the history of the river, highlights the impact of the Seine on Impressionist art. The museum reveals how this majestic river shaped the vision of many painters, notably through a selection of works and exhibitions dedicated to Impressionism. Discover scenes of daily life, plays of light, and iconic landscapes of the region, painted by these visionary artists.

This afternoon set out to visit the Abbey of Saint-Wandrille and the House of Victor Hugo (2). Begin your discovery with a guided visit to the Abbey of Saint-Wandrille. Nestled in a green setting, this abbey offers a peaceful environment typical of Normandy’s landscapes. Although the abbey itself was not painted by the great Impressionists, its surroundings reflect the essence of the scenes they sought to capture: subtle plays of light, changing nuances in nature, and the serenity of the Seine’s valleys, so often immortalized by Claude Monet and his contemporaries.

Continue your journey to Villequier, a village deeply marked by the history of Victor Hugo. Here stands the House of Victor Hugo, a 19th-century residence transformed into a museum, where you can visit the rooms dedicated to the writer. The house houses personal mementos of Victor Hugo and provides a glimpse into his intimate world, particularly after the tragic loss of his daughter Léopoldine. Overlooking the Seine, the house offers a splendid view of the river and its landscapes, bathed in light that inspired the Impressionists. This natural setting, emblematic of Hugo’s poetry in Les Contemplations, echoes the quest of Impressionist artists: to capture the fleeting moment and elevate the ephemeral beauty of the landscapes. You'll be immersed in a Normandy where art, literature, and nature intertwine, in tribute to the landscapes that inspired generations of artists and writers.

In the morning, included excursion: Honfleur. Walking tour of Honfleur, the birthplace of Impressionism with its incomparable charm, where every street has been immortalized with delicate shades, vibrant colours, and subtle plays of light. At the end of a cobblestone alley, you’ll discover the former fortified city, the magnificent wooden church of Sainte Catherine, and, of course, the famous Old Basin, a favorite spot for Impressionist painters like Claude Monet.
Continue your Impressionist immersion with a free visit to the Eugène Boudin Museum (3), which highlights Honfleur's influence on Impressionist artists.

This afternoon embark on a guided visit to discover Le Havre and the MuMa Museum.
Discover this port city with a rich Impressionist heritage. It is here that Monet painted his famous Impression, Sunrise, a pivotal work that gave the movement its name. Stroll through the port area, where Monet captured the play of light on the water, and be charmed by the beauty of this city, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site for its modern architecture, rebuilt after World War II. Walk through its streets and iconic spaces, blending history and modernity. Next, visit the André Malraux Modern Art Museum (MuMa) (4), a true treasure trove for Impressionist and modern art. This prestigious museum houses one of France’s most important collections, with masterpieces by Claude Monet and other painters deeply influenced by the coastal landscapes and unique light of the region. As you wander through its galleries, you’ll discover magnificent works that capture
the wild beauty of the sea, the horizon, and the changing light that characterizes the Norman coastline.

The MuMa is not only a place for artistic contemplation but also an immersive environment, where art interacts with its surroundings. The museum’s modernist architecture, open to the sea, amplifies this experience. Large windows offer a breathtaking view of the Seine estuary, and you’ll feel how artists captured this special light that shaped their work.

Lecture on board: "Geography of Impressionism: Paris and the suburbs, Honfleur, and the Normandy Coast."

This mornings excursion is a themed guided visit of Rouen "In the footsteps of the Impressionists."  The "city of a hundred bell towers," where Monet painted the cathedral and Pissarro painted the port at all hours of the day, offers visitors a unique experience. Like a painter, let yourself be charmed by the play of clouds in the Rouen sky, the reflections on the Seine, or the changing light on the facade of the Notre-Dame Cathedral. Then your steps will lead you to the Museum of Fine Arts (5), which houses one of France’s most prestigious public collections, featuring paintings, sculptures, drawings, and objects of art from the 15th century to the present day.

The afternoon is spent cruising, descending the Seine through varied panoramas. Between pastoral landscapes, elegant castles, and lively riverbanks, be captivated by the tranquility and richness of the journey to the capital. Gala evening on board this evening.

(5) The Museum of Fine Arts is closed on Tuesdays and public holidays, replaced by the Eugène Boudin Museum in Honfleur.

One last buffet breakfast on board before disembarking at 9:00 a.m. End of our services.

• Your cruise with all meals from dinner the first evening to breakfast on the final day
• Onboard drinks included (except for drinks from our special lists)
• Double-occupancy cabin with shower in bathroom
• Assistance from the onboard multi-lingual host/hostess
• Welcome cocktail
• Gala dinner
• Onboard entertainment
• Lectures
• Travel assistance and repatriation insurance
• All port fees

• Drinks from the special lists, or drinks ordered during excursions or transfers
• Cancellation and baggage insurance
• Transfers to/from departure/arrival points
• Personal expenses