Normandy

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, AFMO held a two-part curated trip to Normandy. The first part, which celebrated Impressionism, was led by Stéphane Guégan, curator of Paintings, Musée d’Orsay. The second part commemorated the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landing.

Part One

Paris

From the private viewing of “Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism” to the stunning dinner in the Salle des fêtes, our guests enjoyed an elegant Saturday evening at Musée d’Orsay chaired by Elizabeth Kehler, AFMO chair, and Sylvain Amic, president of Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie, to celebrate the Impressionist season and French-American friendship. We were thrilled to have Angel Blue and her family join us for this special moment. 

Honfleur

As part of the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, AFMO patrons recently embarked on a six-day trip to Normandy. After an exclusive evening at Musée d’Orsay, our guests arrived in Honfleur, the hometown of Eugène Boudin and settled at La Ferme Saint-Siméon, a lovely farmhouse once beloved by many 19th-century painters, including Monet, Sisley, and Courbet.

After tracing Boudin’s steps with a walk along Vieux-Bassin, the Old Harbor, guests were warmly received by director Marie-Laure Loizeau and treated to an insightful private tour of the Musée Eugène Boudin, led by Stéphane Guégan, curator and scientific advisor to the President of Musées d’Orsay et l’Orangerie. The highlights of the visit included two notable paintings on loan from the Musée d’Orsay: Auguste Renoir’s Frédéric Bazille and Claude Monet’s La Charrette. Route sous la neige à Honfleur, both are part of the exhibition En Compagnie d’Eugène Boudin (1824-1898). Entre Côte de Grâce et Côte Fleurie, à l’aube de l’Impressionnisme, paying homage to Boudin’s role as the forerunner of Impressionism.

The beautiful apple orchards that have inspired many artists remain a delight feature of the Norman landscape. At Maison Drouin, our guests met the owners and experienced the living heritage of cider and calvados making, a revered tradition deeply rooted in the region’s history and culture.

Known as the “pays du cheval,” world-famous breeders and equestrian sports are central to the Norman identity. Our guests enjoyed a unique sulky riding experience on the track, feeling the thrills and movements portrayed in Degas’s work of horse racing.

Le Havre

Continuing the journey through Normandy, AFMO patrons were warmly welcomed in Le Havre by Géraldine Lefebvre, director of the Musée d’art moderne André Malraux (MuMA). The morning began at the historic harbor site where Monet painted his emblematic Impression, soleil levant, standing at the exact location of a now-demolished Hotel de l’Amirauté he stayed at.

Followed by a private visit of MuMa, the group had the chance to admire some stunning Impressionist pieces from the collections. The tour also included a special visit to the storerooms, where everyone was captivated by stunning artistic treasures from the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The rest of the morning was then dedicated to tracing Monet’s lesser-known paths at Villa Le Coteau, his aunt’s home, and “Le Bout du Monde” locations immortalized in his paintings, providing a personal glimpse into the artist’s life and inspirations.

Our exploration of Le Havre also delved into its poignant history, notably its reconstruction post-WWII led by Auguste Perret. His visionary use of concrete and modular designs reshaped the city, turning devastation into a modernist marvel now recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its innovative post-war architecture and urban planning. The iconic St. Joseph’s Church, designed by Perret, stood out as a beacon of hope and rebirth for the city, its tower designed to be a lighthouse for the community.

Deauville & Bayeux

Day three of the trip continued in Deauville, with a visit to Les Franciscaines. Director Annie Madet-Vache welcomed us to this unique place, which combines a museum, media library, and concert hall. The serene ambiance provided the perfect backdrop for the remarkable exhibition Zao Wou-Ki – Les allées d’un autre monde. Led by curator Gilles Chazal, General Director of Heritage, Honorary Director of the Petit Palais, Musée des Beaux-Arts de la Ville de Paris, and Françoise Marquet-Zao, Chair of the Fondation Zao Wou-Ki, our guests were treated to an insightful exploration of Zao Wou-Ki’s artistic evolution. The display was a vibrant fusion of Eastern traditions and Western modernism, showcasing a diverse array of mediums including oil paintings, watercolors, and even ceramics. Notably, the exhibition featured the majestic triptych Hommage à Claude Monet, which resonated deeply with our thematic journey through Impressionism.

After immersing ourselves in the artistic depth of Les Franciscaines, the group strolled along the iconic Deauville beach, famous for its wide sands and picturesque boardwalk. Heading west for the second part of our trip, we stopped at Bayeux, a city steeped in history and culture. Here, the medieval Bayeux Tapestry tells the epic tale of the Norman conquest of England in 1066, an artifact that is as captivating as it is historic. Bayeux‘s richly preserved architecture and its pivotal role in the events following D-Day in 1944 offered us a reflective journey through time, from medieval feats to modern-day heroics. The Bayeux Cathedral stood as a towering example of Norman architecture and history, its magnificent spires and intricate carvings echoing centuries of religious and cultural significance.

Part Two

Arromanches-les-Bains, Longues-sur-Mer, Port-en-Bessin

The final chapter of our Normandy journey was dedicated to honoring the upcoming 80th anniversary of D-Day landings. Guided by François de Bourgoing, whose grandfather and father woke up to the sounds of the first wave, our experience was deeply enriched by local insights, anecdotes, and poignant family stories.

Our first day took us to Longues-sur-Mer and the only intact German battery of the Atlantic Wall, and then to Arromanches-les-Bains and the Arromanches 360 theater to relive the battle of Normandy. That evening, over dinner, we were joined by Charles Shay, a US veteran of the June 6th, 1944 landings and our guest of honor. His memories and heartfelt reflections added a deeply personal and moving layer to the historical tapestry, bridging the gap between past and present with every story shared.

Pointe du Hoc, Omaha Beach, Colleville-sur-Mer, Sainte-Mère-Eglise, and Utah Beach

The most solemn moment of our trip took place at Colleville-sur-Mer, where we paid tribute to the bravery and sacrifices of the soldiers at the Normandy American Cemetery. Established by the US First Army and managed by the American Battle Monuments Commission, the American Cemetery stands as a solemn tribute to the valor and sacrifice of those who fought in World War II. Dean Kehler, AFMO patron, captured the spirit of the moment, stating, “9,388 American military personnel are buried there, and the names of another 1,557 who were never found are inscribed on the Walls of the Missing. These brave Americans lost their lives in the D-Day landings and subsequent operations to liberate occupied France and bring the war to an end. Between the playing of the National Anthem and Taps, we held a ceremony to honor the fallen and laid a wreath on behalf of the American Friends of the Musées d’Orsay et de l’Orangerie.”

That night, in celebration of French-American friendship, our hosts Nicolas and Diane hosted an elegant dinner in their 18th century château in the Cotentin « bocage ». The next morning, the group headed to Sainte-Mère-Eglise, home to the Airborne Museum and famous for the paratrooper who landed on the bell tower in the early hours of June 6. The day ended with a stroll on Utah Beach, followed by a tour of its museum and a stop at Angoville-au-Plain: the church was turned into an aid station on D Day and its benches still bear the blood stains of the wounded 80 years later. A final moving note to end a very special trip to Normandy.

To see more of the spectacular trip, please visit our image gallery.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank everyone who has been instrumental in helping us create this very special trip to Normandy. 

Philippe Platel and the Normandie Impressionniste team, Nathalie Lecerf and the Normandy Tourism Board, Marie-Laure Loizeau and David Gadanho in Honfleur, Géraldine Lefebvre and the MuMa team, Eric Baudet of Le Havre-Etretat-Normandie Tourisme, Xavier Parent and Flavie Ternisien at La Ferme Saint-Siméon, Annie Madet-Vache and the team at Les Franciscaines, Françoise Marquet-Zao, François de Bourgoing, Charles Djou and the American Battle Monuments Commission team, Charles Shay and Marie-Pascale Legrand, the team at Château de La Chenevière, Nicolas and Diane Ver Hulst, Melissa Biggs Bradley and the Indagare Travel team, the Ducasse Réception team.

Special thanks to Sylvain Amic, Pierre-Emmanuel Lecerf, Stéphane Guégan, Sophie Walon, Clémence Douillot and everyone at the Musée d’Orsay for helping us make this trip a memorable celebration of both Impressionism and French-American friendship.