TRAVEL

Spring 2024: Normandy, in the footsteps of the Impressionists

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, AFMO will hold a curated trip to Normandy, in two parts:

  • Part One: a celebration of Impressionism led by Stéphane Guégan, curator of Paintings, Musée d’Orsay.

  • Part Two: in commemoration of the D-Day Landing.

The trip will open with an exclusive evening tour of the Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism exhibition at the Musée d’Orsay, followed by a private dinner.

The next day, we will head to Normandy and follow the Impressionist road along the Normandy coast (Part One), then head westward towards the D-Day beaches (Part Two) in commemoration of the upcoming 80th anniversary of June 6, 1944. 

Copyright: Clara Ferrand, Normandie Tourisme

Itinerary:

Part One: May 4, 2024 - May 7, 2024

Saturday, May 4: private evening at the Musée d’Orsay, private cocktail and tour of the Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism, the celebratory exhibition, followed by an exclusive dinner.

Sunday, May 5: Honfleur, Paris-Honfleur trip by train, and heritage walk in Honfleur. Picnic lunch included.

Monday, May 6: Le Havre and Pays de Caux/Côte d’Albâtre, including a private tour of the Musée André Malraux (the second largest Impressionist collection in France) and the beautiful landscapes, cliffs, and seaside that inspired many Impressionists from Boudin to Monet, and more. Lunch included. Special evening to celebrate Norman gastronomy at Les Impressionnistes.

Tuesday, May 7: Honfleur and Deauville, Norman savoir-faire experience* and private tour of Zao Wou-Ki, the alleys of another world at Les Franciscaines in Deauville. Lunch included.

*Guests will select one experience to choose from a choice of three themes, each central to the Norman identity : Impressionism, apples, and horses.

Group One (Part One only) returns to Paris by train (direct, Deauville/Paris) in the late afternoon.

Group Two (Part One and Part Two) heads back to Honfleur for the night.

Part Two: May 8 - May 10, 2024

Wednesday, May 8: Bayeux and Arromanches, including private tours of the Bayeux museum (Bayeux Tapestry), Arromanches 360, Longues-sur-Mer German battery and a private heritage site. Lunch and dinner included.

Dinner at Le Botaniste to commemorate the June 1944 landings, with a special guest of honor.

Thursday, May 9: American Cemetery, Pointe du Hoc and Omaha Beach, with the American Battle Monuments Commission. Lunch and dinner included.

Private dinner to celebrate French-American friendship.

Friday, May 10: Sainte-Mère-Eglise, Utah Beach and Angoville. Carentan-Paris return trip by train. Lunch included.

This program is being developed in collaboration with Normandie impressionniste, the Normandy Tourism Board, and the American Battle Monuments Commission.

Limited capacity.

Pays d’Auge Copyright: All rights reserved.

"It is beautiful here, my friend; every day I discover more and more beautiful things. It is intoxicating, so much that I want to paint it all - my head is bursting." Claude Monet, letter to Frédéric Bazille, Etretat, Normandy, 1864

Norman hospitality

We have selected two beautiful independent hotels, each with ties to French and Norman history.

La Ferme Saint-Siméon (Part One): 17th-century farmhouse in a lovely harbour town, birth place of the Impressionist School of Honfleur. Starting in the mid-19th century, the “Mère Toutain” became famous amongst young artists for her cuisine and warm welcome, attracting the likes of Corot, Courbet, Boudin, Monet, and many more.

Honfleur is a charming seaside town, with restaurants and bistros, in addition to the Ferme Saint-Siméon’s two in-house restaurants.

Château de La Chenevière (Part Two): 18th and 19th century château. During WW2, the estate was occupied by the Germans. On the night of June 4, 1944, the then-owner Armand Lapierre, who was a member of the Résistance, took part in the “Grande Coupure” to destroy the German lines of communication in the area before the Allied landing on June 6, 1944. By the time of the landing, the Germans had left, and the Royal Army Service Corps moved in.

NB Both hotels have a spa and a swimming pool.

Last evening and night in a private château, in the Cotentin bocage.

Norman cuisine

In addition to the exclusive May 4 dinner at the musée d’Orsay, there will be two special dinners:

Les Impressionnistes (Part One) holds 2 Gault & Millau toques. Its menu is a celebration of Norman produce and cuisine.

Le Botaniste (Part Two) holds 2 Gault & Millau toques for its refined cuisine and elegant setting.

Copyright: stock.adobe.com, Normandie Tourisme

The Normandy trip is SOLD OUT. If you have any questions or if you are interested in being waitlisted should there be any vacancy, please email us.

To take part in the exclusive May 4 fundraising evening, including a private viewing of the Paris 1874. Inventing Impressionism exhibition followed by a private dinner at the Orsay museum, please click HERE.

Reservations

Part One is open to all. AFMO members enjoy priority booking.

Part Two cannot be reserved independently.

Part One + Part Two is reserved to AFMO members, with priority to Benefactors and above levels. If you are not a member or if your membership level does not apply, please email us to be on the waiting list.

To find out more and book your trip to Normandy with AFMO, please click on the link HERE to email us.

AFMO wishes to thank CHRISTIE’S for their partnership and support of our Impressionist season in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Impressionism. Many thanks as well to Le Bristol Paris for their support to our May 4 celebratory evening.

A week-long celebration of art and friendship

  • Musée d'Orsay

  • Honfleur

  • Ferme Saint-Siméon, Honfleur

  • Cliffs, Pays de Caux

  • Pays d'Auge

  • Deauville-Trouville

  • Château de La Chenevière, Port-en-Bessin

  • Omaha Beach

  • Sainte-Mère-Eglise

  • Bocages, Cotentin