10 French Sites That Inspired Iconic Paintings, from Étretat to Antibes

A travel article showcases ten French sites that served as inspiration for renowned artworks. Claude Monet, in Étretat, Normandy, created over 50 paintings of the cliffs between the 1860s and 1880s, including Sunset at Étretat (1883, Museum of Fine Arts of Nancy). He also captured Rouen Cathedral in more than 30 pieces, such as Rouen Cathedral, West Façade, Sunlight (1894, National Gallery of Art, DC). Paul Signac's Mont Saint-Michel, Setting Sun (1897, Dallas Museum of Art) illustrates the island at high tide. Gustave Caillebotte's Paris Street; Rainy Day (1877, Art Institute of Chicago) reflects Haussmann-era Paris, while Renoir's Bal du moulin de la Galette (1876, Musée d'Orsay) shows a dance hall in Montmartre. Van Gogh spent his final months in Auvers-sur-Oise and created several works in Arles before his breakdown. Cézanne painted Mont Sainte-Victoire in Aix-en-Provence, and Monet worked in Antibes in 1888. Monet's Giverny garden is accessible from April to November.