What to visit in Normandy in 1 week? Here is my tourist circuit to visit the essential sites of Normandy in 1 week while following in the footsteps of the Impressionists. It’s an original way to discover this beautiful region!
My itinerary (see Google Maps below) is normally done in one week as a road trip. However, it can easily be customized and adapted for a 4 or 5-day trip, or, for the lucky ones, easily adapted for a 10-day trip!
How to visit Normandy?
Of course, to enjoy Normandy, you can have a great holiday with relaxation, beaches, restaurants, and day trips on the agenda. See my rental ideas in Normandy.
Alternatively, you can take a "classic" tourist circuit which allows you to visit all the historical sites, museums, cathedrals, churches or a Normandy-Brittany road trip.
Finally, you can do (like me) a tour that combines visits to must-see sites, cultural visits on the theme of the impressionists and accommodation allowing you to enjoy a real vacation in relaxation mode.
Circuit of the impressionists in Normandy
What a great way to discover part of the history of impressionist painters outside of museums!
What a fun and original way to find the places that these artists painted and to soak up the atmosphere of these magnificent places.
It was in the 19th century that Normandy became the meeting place for painters and the cradle of Impressionism. Its grandiose landscapes, its proximity to Paris and the new fashion for seaside resorts make Normandy a popular holiday resort for artists.
They set up their easels there to try to capture and reproduce the vibration of the light of the mists, sunrises or sunsets, the quivering of reflections and their subtle nuances or even the depth of the sky or the shores ...
Some of these artists have been there, others have settled there. Among the most famous are: Monet, Renoir, Pissaro, Sisley, Bazille, Boudin or Cézanne.
Normandy itinerary in 1 week
For the stages of my one-week tour, I have only selected the most beautiful sites in Normandy and a few high places frequented by impressionist painters. Here are the stages of my itinerary to visit Normandy in 1 week:
- Vexin Français Regional Nature Park
- Giverny the house of Claude Monet
- Vernon
- Rouen
- Fécamp
- Etretat
- The Cliffs of Etretat
- Honfleur
- Deauville
- The Mont Saint Michel
Tourist circuit map in Normandy
Normandy in 1 week – Day 1
Giverny and the Norman Vexin: Splendid landscapes, Giverny, colours and sensations. This is the program for the first day of my week-long road trip in Normandy.
The starting point of my tour in Normandy is located in the Vexin Normand . It is a beautiful green region with many forests, bodies of water and valleys where sports enthusiasts and hiking lovers of all kinds (horse riding, walking, cycling and cycle touring) are delighted.
It is also a region where the history of Normandy, the Kingdom of France and that of England took place. But the Vexin Normand is best known for Giverny with the house and gardens of Claude Monet!
Les Andelys
First step of my trail in the footsteps of the impressionists, Les Andelys is also the city of Richard the Lionheart.
On the banks of the Seine, this small town is located at the foot of the famous ruins of Château-Gaillard which offer a magnificent panorama.
This landscape has inspired great painters such as William Turner, Charles-François Daubigny and Paul Signac who painted Les Andelys, la Berge currently at the Musée d'Orsay.
To appreciate the beauty of the place, I recommend the “Promenade des Près” which follows the Grand Rang canal, a link between the small and the large Andely. This walk starts at the Normandy-Niemen Monument near the Roger Gaudeau College. It is signposted and crosses beautiful landscapes and leads to the Notre-Dame collegiate church. Allow 3 hours of very easy hike.
Giverny cultural trail
After Les Andelys, at the beginning of the afternoon, you will take the road to Giverny (30 minutes journey).
To visit Giverny, all you have to do is follow the signs of the cultural path to take a route where the impressionist views are indicated. You will appreciate the history of the village which inspired the American Butler, the Czech Radimsky and especially Monet!
Then you can visit the Museum of Impressionisms or continue the walk by going to the always flowered tomb of Claude Monet.
For your dinner, I recommend that you go to 81 rue Claude Monet where the former Hôtel Baudy is located.
It was a refreshment bar which became famous because it was frequented by very famous painters (Renoir, Rodin, Sisley, Cézanne) who came to spend lively evenings there. Today, it is a restaurant that welcomes you in such a well-preserved place (to reserve: Tel: +33 2 32 21 10 03).
Where to stay near Giverny?
Located in Houlbec-Cocherel, 15 km from Giverny, the B&B Aux Vieilles Pierres offers everything you need for a great family stay in a characterful building: beautiful terrace, garden, sauna and heated indoor pool!
On the practical side, to get an idea, the nearest airport is Beauvais-Tillé (69 km) and Paris is only 82 km away.
Normandy in 1 week – Day 2
Monet's house, the Water Lily Garden , natural settings for great masterpieces. That's the plan for day 2 of my road trip in Normandy.
Visit Claude Monet's house
I recommend (to avoid the crowds) to visit the famous house with the pink plaster as soon as it opens in the morning. Besides, remember to book skip-the-line tickets.
For art lovers, it is a moving moment to discover this place where Claude Monet lived from 1883 to 1926.
During the visit, you will find its colorful interior decor and its intimate charm of yesteryear. In several rooms you will discover his precious collection of Japanese prints.
Discover the gardens
A few steps from the house, the vast Water Lilies workshop has been restored and houses the Foundation shop. The gardens which have so inspired the artist are reconstructed and always maintained identically as Claude Monet had designed them. Look at the reflections of the small Japanese bridge ...
Open your eyes wide and imagine Monet painting… It's magic!
Vernon
In the afternoon, you can go to Vernon whose landscapes were places of inspiration for some painters. Blanche Hoschedé painted the banks of the Seine there. If you have time, take a tour of the Vernon Museum which exhibits some beautiful impressionist paintings (La Maison de Monet by Blanche Hoschedé).
Go also admire the famous hanging house not far from the splendid Château Gaillard which offers a unique panorama over the valley of the Seine.
Return to your rental property Aux vieilles pierres for a relaxing evening.
Normandy in 1 week – Day 3
Middle Ages, burned witch, Cathedral and trip to the Alabaster Coast. This is the program for the 3rd day of this tourist circuit in Normandy.
An hour's drive from Vernon, my itinerary takes us to spend the morning in Rouen . It's a beautiful medieval city where it's pleasant to stroll through its narrow streets lined with half-timbered houses.
Visit Rouen
A site "as beautiful as Venice" said Pissarro. This town inspired Turner, Corot, Pissarro, Gauguin and, of course, Monet.
Notre-Dame cathedral
The essential visit to Rouen in a circuit in the footsteps of the Impressionists is its imposing Cathedral. It is one of the most beautiful achievements of French Gothic art. It owes its charm to the variety of its composition and the richness of its sculpted decoration. It has been painted 30 times by Claude Monet at different times of the day to capture the different colors of its facade, lit by the sun or not.
Old Rouen
From Notre Dame Cathedral, you can visit old Rouen on the right bank of the Seine. You will arrive at rue du Gros Horloge, a must-see in the old town.
The Museum of Fine Arts brings together some masterful works by Camille Pissaro and Claude Monet that might attract you if you have a little time ...
Then we must remember that it was in Rouen that Joan of Arc was imprisoned, tried and burned alive in the Place du Vieux-Marché.
You can follow a walking tour that recounts the events and places in Rouen linked to Joan of Arc, including a stop at the Historial Jeanne d'Arc located in the archbishop's palace. See how to visit Rouen on foot.
Visit Rouen in 1 hour
For info, it seems that it is possible to visit all the must-see places in Rouen in 1 hour!
Yes, the tourist office provides a route map of Rouen in 1 hour : https://www.rouentourisme.com/visiter-rouen-en-1-heure/
Fécamp, Etretat and the Alabaster coast
This Normandy coastline (Etretat, Fécamp and the Alabaster Coast) has so much charm that the Impressionists have flocked there. Monet notably painted The Lower Gate in rough weather , The Beach and the Upper Gate , the Manneporte.
Boudin and Courbet went to paint this coast. Let us remember the famous series The Waves that Courbet created on this magnificent site.
Fécamp
Before arriving in Etretat, stop at Fécamp to visit its magnificent Benedictine Palace, a masterpiece that successfully combines neo-Gothic and neo-renaissance art.
The Small Slabs
If you have time, 18 kilometers further on lies a small seaside resort: Les Petites Dalles . The majestic cliffs that frame the village and the beach inspired Impressionist painters, notably Claude Monet, Pissarro and Berthe Morisot, and in a different style also Eugène Delacroix.
Etretat
Here we are! We're in the picture-postcard Normandy . But don't rush, take your time and enjoy it...
I therefore advise you to take a little tour and settle down quietly in your accommodation.
You can spend the next day visiting the site.
Where to stay in Etretat?
I know a great place if you want to enjoy a breathtaking view of the iconic Hollow Needle . The location of this bed and breakfast is its main asset, but it also boasts a garden and a lovely terrace. Its location in Étretat is perfect: the Étretat gardens, the town center, and the beach are all within a 10-minute walk.
Normandy in 1 week – Day 4
White cliffs, needles, mythical beaches, magic of Etretat. This is the program for the 4th day of my road trip to Normandy.
Visit Etretat
Today, I advise you to get up early to start the hike before a crowd of tourists invades the place.
Etretat (classified as a Grand Site) has many cliffs, each more beautiful than the next. The 3 main ones that can be visited are the cliffs of Aval, d'Amont and Manneporte. These 3 cliffs and their natural arches are known around the world!
Visit of the cliffs of Etretat
This is a beautiful hike that allows you to discover the Amont and Aval cliffs, the famous hollow needle, and the Manneporte cliff. Along the way, the views of the cliffs and the superb beaches are simply magnificent.
This hike will take you all morning (3h30) but it is definitely worth it!
Here are all the details of this hike: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-falaises-d-etretat/ or by following my tourist route to visit the cliffs of Etretat.
Falaise d'Aval
The Falaise d'Aval is the best known of all. You can go to the top to have a breathtaking view of the Alabaster Coast and the beaches.
To do this, you have to start from the Gustave Courbet terrace and climb the stairs then climb and follow the edges.
Which restaurant in Etretat?
To enjoy both an incredible view of the cliffs and, above all, succulent dishes prepared with great creativity, I recommend the Restaurant du Golf (tel to book: +33 2 35 27 04 56).
Normandy in 1 week – Day 5
Small fishing port, pastel colors, romance in Normandy. Here's everything you'll discover on this 5th day of your visit to Normandy.
Visit Honfleur
You will surely leave the splendid cliffs of Etretat with regret to start this new day in Honfleur (only 1 hour's drive from Etretat).
Honfleur the romantic
Walk through the alleys of old Honfleur, stop to admire the pretty facade of an old house or on the terrace of a café around the Vieux Bassin to have a bowl of cider… It's already a great way to visit Honfleur!
But you can also treat yourself to a guided tour of Honfleur for €14/person to discover all its monuments and its history: More information on this Honfleur tour.
Honfleur and the impressionists
Why Honfleur in my circuit in the footsteps of the impressionists?
Well, you should know that Honfleur gave its name to the Honfleur School because it was there that many painters flocked for nearly seventy years, between 1825 and the end of the 19th century. The painters of this school were the forerunners of the Impressionist movement. Then, the Impressionist painters (Courbet, Corot, Dufy, Marquet, Monet, Seurat, etc.) set up their easels in Honfleur (without necessarily being members of the Honfleur School).
If you have some time, I recommend visiting the Eugène Boudin Museum . This museum pays tribute to artists who stayed in Honfleur through 2000 paintings. Otherwise, head to Deauville.
Visit Deauville
After lunch, in 30 minutes you will arrive in Deauville.
Deauville so chic and so Frenchy!
Symbol of the chic and French elegance of the 1900s, Deauville owes its worldwide reputation to the luxury and refinement of its atmosphere and architecture.
How to represent it to you?
Imagine: Prestigious palaces and imposing charming buildings, a large beach bordered by the famous Planks from the 20s, colorful and typical Deauville beach cabins ...
You can also take a little walk on the large beach of Trouville nearby because it has a lot of charm!
Normandy in 1 week – Day 6
A hilltop abbey, history, ancient stones, breathtaking panoramas . Here's the program for day 6, following my itinerary in Normandy.
Visit to Mont Saint Michel
It was impossible to design a circuit in Normandy without planning a stopover at Mont Saint Michel!
Classified as a Historical Monument and listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Mont Saint-Michel and its Abbey are jewels of Normandy's heritage!
What to see at Mont Saint Michel?
To visit Mont Saint Michel, you have to devote the whole day to it. Here are the sites to discover:
- The Abbey (entrance at €15 including the guided tour) and the ramparts;
- 4 museums: historical museum, museum of the sea and ecology, Archeoscope and Logis Typhaine;
- The parish church (free entry).
See my itinerary for visiting Mont Saint Michel in 1 day
Where to stay near Mont Saint Michel?
The hotel I recommend is located just 2 km from Mont Saint-Michel. With its free parking and its shuttle to Mont-Saint-Michel (stop 50 meters from the hotel), it is the ideal and super practical place to visit Mont Saint Michel.
And what's more, there are some rooms with a balcony overlooking Mont Saint-Michel, as well as a great gourmet restaurant!
Want to continue with another short tour? Here's how to discover the Pink Granite Coast in 2 days
Or perhaps a road trip from Brittany to Bordeaux or a tour in the Vendée?
And if you are looking for holiday destination ideas in France: Where to go in France this summer?