The view of the majestic cliffs of Étretat was celebrated by renowned artists but it was Gustave Courbet who demonstrated a new approach to a seascape portrayal with his creative work laying a bridge between the outgoing romanticism and emerging impressionism. In just two months, Courbet was able to create the unparalleled series of seascapes – about 30 paintings with sea and cliffs images of Étretat from different perspectives and times of day. His artworks became the source of inspiration for Claud Monet's "Water Lilies" series and "Rouen Cathedral" and also Paul Cézanne's series of paintings with Mountain Sainte-Victoire.

The realism of Courbet's landscapes generated controversy in the academic circles throughout his entire life. Richard Muther observed: "He was hated because, in perfect mastery, he wrote as naturally as others eat, drink, or talk".

Courbet worshipped the sea as a painter and reveled in it as a swimmer – he took pleasure in swimming for hours in the cold sea. One day he saved a young man who passed out 300 meters from the beach. Edouard Manet left the following words about Gustave Courbet: "When it comes to water – he is the Raphael of water. He knows its every movement – at the deep or in the shallows, at any time of the day".

After the display of Courbet's works with views of Étretat at the School of Fine Arts in Paris, these cliffs literally became the place of pilgrimage for many artists, including Polenov, Monet, Boudin and Matisse…

You can also try yourself as a painter and draw a picture under the guidance of our wonderful artists that can give either individual or group master classes.

Claude Monet spent his childhood in Le Havre and it was here that he painted "Impression, Sunrise". The painting was first shown to the general public at the famous exhibition in 1874 and, following the example of journalist Louis Leroy, the title of the artwork became the name of the "impressionism" movement, the representatives of which took part at this presentation. In his article dedicated to the exhibition, the journalist wrote: «A preliminary drawing for a wallpaper pattern is more finished than this "Impression"!»

Rouen was the beloved city of the impressionists – Gauguin, Sisley and Monet spent here entire months, while the latter devoted most of the time to the Rouen Cathedral, having made 30 paintings of it. Inspired by this series, Camille Pissarro had visited Rouen twice to draw the city landscapes.

Giverny is located halfway between Paris and Rouen. Over the years, Claude Monet lived and created here. And it was here that he painted his famous "Water lilies". The artist constantly draw inspiration from his garden about which he wrote: "… I had a revelation of my fabulous, wonderful pond. I took the palette and since that time I have almost never had any other model".

Eugène Delacroix, who became world famous because of his painting "Liberty Leading the People", anticipated the development of the national landscape in France in the 19^th century, while capturing the views of Normandy. His most renowned seascape, nowadays displayed in the Louvre, was painted in a small city of Dieppe, which was the main port in the 17^th century France. It was from Dieppe that over 3 thousand Huguenots escaped to America after the Edict of Nantes was revoked.

William Turner painted "The Harbour of Dieppe" following his two visits to the town of Dieppe that became a popular seaside resort among the English people in the 19^th century. Apart from Delacroix and Turner, Gauguin, Pissarro and Boudin had a passion for capturing the images of Dieppe. Today in the upper part of the city there is a castle museum with a beautiful collection of impressionists' paintings.

Honfleur, a small picturesque port town, is called the cradle of impressionism. It is here that Eugène Boudin, who gave the first lessons in painting on plein air to the young Claude Monet, was born, grew up and created. Nowadays, there is the Eugène Boudin museum that contains about 2500 pieces of his artwork.

Honfleur has a five-star hotel La Ferme Saint Siméon Relais & Châteaux, a former tavern and a gathering place for the famed impressionists. Today it is a gastronomic center of the whole region – a must stop for dinner during the journey along the cost.

It is here, in a small port of Barfleur, listed as one of the prettiest villages in France, one must try the blonde wild mussels, main feature of the eastern coast of La Manche. The beaches and the constantly changing colours of the sky, another attraction of Barfleur, can be seen in the paintings of Paul Signac, who spent here the last years of his life.

The beach of Trouville was considered the most beautiful one in France in the 19^th century. Even to this day, it is dotted with cabanas, multicoloured umbrellas and decorated with wooden boardwalks. Many artists were inspired by its views, including Gustave Caillebotte, who painted the local villas bordering the beach and scenes of luncheon on the sand.

The city of Fécamp, a seaside resort and home of the famous Bénédictine liqueur, was the main fishing port in France in the 11^th -second half of 20^th century. Among the big admirers of Fécamp, its baths and casino, were Edouard Manet and his brother's wife, the painter and model, Berthe Morisot.

The small city of Varengeville-sur-Mer with a breathtaking view over the bay of Dieppe as if floats between sky and sea and thus attracts a lot of artists even today. A little church sitting atop the cliffs is decorated with a stained glass by Georges Braque, one of the cubism founders.