The Normandy of the Impressionists

Day 1: Arrival

You will meet your guide in the late afternoon in the pretty little town of Les Andelys, dominated by the ruins of the Château Gaillard, once built by Richard the Lionheart. We will settle into our hotel ideally located on the banks of the Seine. At the restaurant, we enjoy a magnificent view of the river and a traditional Normandy dinner.

Day 2: Monet's garden and the Seine valley to Rouen - approx. 40 km.

In the morning, we have a short bus transfer to Giverny. Monet is said to have seen this place for the first time through the train window and was so impressed that he rented the "maison de la presse" to live there with his family. We are guided through Monet's charming house and its two famous gardens including the water lily pond. The bus then takes us to André where we pick up our bikes. Invigorated by a picnic lunch, we pedal along the Seine valley on picturesque paths towards Rouen. We ride past cliffs, isolated farms and churches to the Côte des Deux-Amants lock and then along the banks of the Seine in the center of Rouen to our hotel. After dinner in the old town, we still have time to stroll around.

Day 3: Rouen and the Avenue Verte - approx. 37 km

In the morning, we will discover the old town of Rouen and its majestic cathedral during a guided tour. Afterward, we will pedal along the renowned Avenue Verte, a former abandoned railway line that is now exclusively reserved for cyclists. It connects Neufchâtel-en-Bray directly to Dieppe and offers cyclists a green setting made of pastures, fruit trees and superb views. This is a relaxing day! In the afternoon, we arrive in the old port city of Dieppe, where we have time to relax by the sea and enjoy a dinner of mussels and French fries, one of the specialties of this fishing region.

Day 4: Impressionists and the Alabaster Coast - approx. 37 km

To reach the charming town of Varengeville-sur-Mer, we pedal through rows of hedges that create delightful “green tunnels”. We enjoy a private visit to the church and cemetery where Georges Braque, the cubist artist closely associated with this town, is buried. But the alabaster-white coast also conceals many jewels. We ride in a picturesque setting to Veules-les-Roses and St-Valery-en-Caux. A bus then takes us to Honfleur via the imposing "Pont de Normandie", after stopping in front of the famous "Porte d'Aval", an imposing stone arch dug into the chalk cliff of Étretat.

Day 5: From the Middle Ages to the fashionable seaside resorts - approx. 40 km

In Honfleur, we follow in the footsteps of Eugène Boudin. The famous native of the town, considered one of the precursors of Impressionism, met with Baudelaire and Courbet here. It was also Boudin who is said to have encouraged Monet to leave the studio and paint outdoors. We then pedal quietly through small forests to Pont-l'Évêque. We then follow bucolic paths to Deauville, the "grande dame" of Norman seaside resorts. We will enjoy a swim in Trouville-sur-Mer, its nearby neighbour, before strolling through the town and along the beach promenade (2 nights).

Day 6: The Cider Route - approx. 44 km

The day begins in Lisieux with its impressive basilica dedicated to Saint Theresa. We then leave to discover one of the many culinary treasures of Normandy. We drive along the "Route du Cidre" to Cambremer, surrounded by apple orchards, charming half-timbered houses and stud farms. After a picnic lunch and its regional delicacies, we will appreciate the guided visit of a cider and calvados farm, followed by a tasting. We end the day by admiring one of the most beautiful villages in France, Beuvron-en-Auge, and by another evening in Trouville.

Day 7: From William the Conqueror to the D-Day landing beaches - approx. 47 km

We cycle due west along the coast to Houlgate, then Cabourg to the mouth of the Orne where Riva Bella beach begins, one of the beaches where the Allies landed in 1944. The memorial "La Flamme" in Ouistreham marks the end of our bike tour through the land of the impressionists. In Bayeux, the loop started in Rouen is completed. We admire the famous Bayeux Tapestry, an impressive representation in pictures of the history of Normandy and the conquest of England by William the Conqueror in 1066.

Day 8: Departure or extension

Individual departure or transport organised by us (on request). It is also possible to extend your stay in this wonderful region. Please consult us!