An Unforgettable Experience Awaits
Discover the unique beauty of Normandy and understand why Impressionist painters have been drawn to its quality of light for hundreds of years on our Art school trips to Normandy.
Staying at our 18th-century Château du Molay helps young artists experience the region’s influence first-hand and provides inspiration for their future work. Students are free to roam the 38 acres of parkland grounds, and charming neighbouring towns and local attractions give a unique view of authentic French culture.
Trip Highlights
Monet’s immortalised gardens at Giverny (seasonal)
The modern MuMa gallery in Le Havre
Beautiful historic port of Honfleur
Belle époque seaside resorts Deauville & Trouville
Recommended excursions
Andre Malraux Museum of Modern Art (MuMa)
Located on the sea-front in Le Havre this modern light-filled glass and steel gallery is home to France’s finest Impressionist Collection outside Paris. It’s late 19th and 20th century collections include a collection of 300 works by Boudin, Monet, Pissarro, Renoir, Degas, Gauguin, Van Dongen, Marquet, Dufy, Friesz, Pisarro, Courbet and Corot.
Monet’s House and Gardens Giverny
Discover the home of Claude Monet and his famous flower garden that provided inspiration for his work. Students will learn more about the master of impressionism and take the time to work on their own floral compositions. Located 75km from Paris, this is a favored excursion for schools staying in Normandy and the French capital. with seasonal opening.
The Museum of Impressionism
A short walk from Monet’s House and Gardens, the Museum of Impressionism annually has two temporary exhibitions featuring original works from the Impressionist movement particularly those painters who worked at Giverny and in the Seine Valley. The museum has gardens which lead up to the hill of Giverny which was often featured in Impressionist works.
Deauville
Trouville’s sister resort Deauville is the most sophisticated resort on the Normandy coast complete with race course, film festival, casino and its own airport. Deauville inspired many artists: painters, writers, poets and caricaturists who came here during the 1920’s including Coco Chanel, who opened one of her first boutiques here, Dufy, Fujita, Van Dongen, Apollinaire, Sacha Guitry and Colette.
Trouville
The Parisian landscape painter Charles Mozin first came to the small fishing port of Trouville in 1825. When he displayed his work in Paris and other artists followed him including Isabey, Huet and Corot. The Hotel des Rochers Noires was made famous by Monet and there is a fine collection of paintings, prints, photographs and drawings relating to holidays at the Montebello Museum-villa.
Bayeux Tapestry
This long embroidered scroll is the most important relic to have survived from the 11th century. Students can see the epic story of William of Normandy’s conquest of England in 1066, and consider the French and British interpretations of events.
Please note: The Bayeux Tapestry Museum is currently closed for a complete renovation and is due to re-open in Autumn 2027.
Museum of Art and History Bayeux
In the former Episcopal Palace of Bayeux this museum takes you on a journey through time from archaeology to modern art. Exhibits include archaeological and ethnographical finds, Bayeux porcelain and lace and 350 pieces of art including works by Caillebotte, Van Dougen and Boudin.
Eugene Boudin Museum
Founded in 1868 by the Honfleur artist Alexandre Dubourg, a friend of Eugene Boudin, the museum shows works by 19th century artists inspired by this region of Normandy. There are works by Romantics, Impressionists and Fauves, including Boudin, Monet, Courbet, Jongkind, Cals, Dubourg, Isabey, Vallotton, Dufy and Marquet.
Honfleur
A picturesque harbour town with cobbled streets and timbered houses. Once a departure point for maritime expeditions, Honfleur inspired Impressionist painters with its 17th-century harbour.
Mont Saint-Michel
Mont Saint-Michel, a gothic Benedictine abbey, is perched on a rocky islet amid vast sandbanks exposed to powerful tides. Over the years the island’s abbey has served as a prison, a fortress against the English and a monastery. As well as the abbey, your group can explore the medieval buildings of the village that grew up beneath its walls, along with stunning views.
Musee des Beaux Arts de Caen
This modern museum built inside William the Conqueror’s Castle contains works from the 15th century to the contemporary period. The Museum specialises in 16th and 17th century European painting including works by Veronese, Tintoretto and Rubens. Normandy as the home of Impressionism is represented through works by Monet, Boudin and Lebourg and post impressionism works by Bonnard and Dufy.
Rouen
Rouen is considered the city of Impressionism and its iconic cathedral was used a subject by Turner and later Monet who created 28 works of its facade. The river Seine and its bridges, the Great Clock, the medieval quarter and the view from Sainte-Catherine’s Hill have all inspired great works. Rouen was the birthplace of the Post-Impressionist movement, and many fine works can be seen in the Musée des Beaux Arts.
Musee des Beaux Arts de Rouen
This museum houses an important collection from the 16th century to modern day including works from the Rouen School of Post-Impressionist artists such as Lebourg, Angrand, Delattre and Pinchon. There is a significant collection of Impressionist works including paintings by Monet, Sisley, Renoir and Degas. Image by Musée des Beaux Arts de Rouen, CC BY-SA 3.0, from Wikimedia Commons.
Typical accommodation
Château du Molay, Normandy
Our exclusive 18th century Château du Molay can accommodate 195 guests in 42 en-suite bedrooms and is set amongst 38 acres of beautiful private parkland.
Located only 14kms from Bayeux, within easy reach of the world famous Calvados coast and just a 45 minute journey from Caen, the Château is in an ideal location for easy school trips from the UK.
See more about our exclusive Château du Molay
Itinerary suggestion
1 Depart school in your coach
2 Channel Crossing to Calais
3 Stop in Le Havre to visit the Impressionist collection at the MuMa Gallery. Arrive at the Château du Molay
4 Evening meal and château entertainment
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Visit Monet’s Gardens at Giverny (seasonal opening) and the Impressionist Museum
3 Rouen Cathedral and Musée des Beaux Arts
4 Evening meal. Optional snails and mussels. Château entertainment
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Visit the seaside resorts of Deauville and Trouville
3 Afternoon in Caen to visit the Musée des Beaux Arts
4 Evening meal and farewell disco
1 Breakfast and packed lunch
2 Return to the Calais with a stop at Honfleur
3 Channel crossing
4 Arrive at home
Learning outcomes
Subject focus
Students can:
- See a range of art in important art museums
- See the towns, cities and landscapes that provided the context for so much inspirational artwork
- Understand the development and growth of the Impressionist movement
- Find inspiration for their own work
- Explore and evaluate how issues such as presentation were addressed in some famous works
Student outcomes
Students will have had an opportunity to:
- View a wide range of inspiring works and the locations which inspired them
- Develop an understanding of the inspirations and techniques behind Impressionist work and assess the critical reaction of the time
- Encounter a range of influences to inform their own work
- Will have the opportunity to sketch or paint in some of the landscapes that have inspired world-renowned artists
“
Very helpful Tour Co-ordinator. Nothing was too much trouble when organising the tour which was essential for me to get it off the ground.
Archbishop Holgate’s School
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