A recognized master of Impressionism, Auguste Renoir illuminated French painting with his joyful scenes of life, tender portraits and light-filled landscapes. We owe him such famous canvases as Le Déjeuner des canotiers, Le Bal du moulin de la Galette and La Balançoire, inspired by real-life scenes and places in the Île-de-France region.
Although Renoir was born in Limoges, it was in and around Paris that he found his most beautiful motifs. This painter of light, skin and movement spent most of his career capturing life on the spot, often in the open air, on the heights of Montmartre or on the banks of the Seine. We invite you to follow in the footsteps of the famous painter through the emblematic sites of the Paris region that nurtured his inspiration, housed his studio or now exhibit his masterpieces: museums in Paris, historic gardens and restaurants, the banks of the Seine immortalized on canvas... A cultural and bucolic itinerary to rediscover the soul of Impressionism through Renoir's eyes.
In the 1870s, Renoir moved to 12 rue Cortot, now home to the Musée de Montmartre. It was here, in this house surrounded by gardens, that he painted such iconic scenes as La Balançoire and Le Bal du moulin de la Galette. The Montmartre district, still rural at the time, offered the painter its rolling landscapes, its guinguettes and its popular atmosphere. Today, the museum features a reconstruction of Renoir's studio, while the surrounding gardens, known as the Jardins Renoir, allow visitors to immerse themselves in the pictorial atmosphere he transcribed onto canvas.
Things to do in the Montmartre neighborhood: Ideas for outings and great places to visit
Are you going to Montmartre and looking for a great place to visit? Here are some places in the 18th arrondissement that are sure to delight you! [Read more]
The Musée de Montmartre, a jewel nestled in the heart of Paris, awaits you for a tour of the area's famous artists. Explore the fascinating history of this museum in the 18th arrondissement, home to works by artists such as Auguste Renoir and Suzanne Valadon. With over 100,000 visitors a year, this museum offers an unforgettable journey through the art and culture of Montmartre! [Read more]
Le Moulin de la Galette is a legendary Montmartre institution. Immortalized by painters such as Van Gogh and Renoir, the restaurant now invites us to savor comforting recipes typical of French brasserie. [Read more]
Fascinated by the shimmering light of the Seine, Renoir spent many summers on its banks, notably in Chatou, where he painted Le Déjeuner des canotiers at the Maison Fournaise, now a museum. He didn't live there permanently, but went there regularly to paint en plein air, as his Impressionist friends did.
In Bougival and Croissy-sur-Seine, he set up his easel in front of the pontoons of the Grenouillère, a popular bathing spot at the time. Here he met up with Claude Monet, with whom he painted side by side, trying to capture on canvas the changing reflections of the water, the moving silhouettes and the play of light on the Seine. These places, then in vogue among the Parisian bourgeoisie, became the natural theaters of pictorial modernity.
For a close-up look at Renoir's paintings, head for the Musée d'Orsay, which boasts an impressive collection of his works, including Bal du Moulin de la Galette, La Promenade and Jeunes filles au piano. Off the beaten track, the Musée de Montmartre offers a unique insight into the artist's daily life, while the Musée Fournaise in Chatou plunges you into the era of the canoeist.
Would you like to visit the Musée d'Orsay, one of Europe's most visited museums and home to the world's largest collection of Impressionist paintings? We'll be happy to give you all the tips and tricks you need, as well as the works to discover, the current exhibitions, and the rates and free admission available, so you can make the most of your visit in the best possible conditions. [Read more]
The Musée de l'Orangerie is famous for Monet's Water Lilies. But the museum holds many other treasures... Here's everything you need to know to visit. [Read more]
Far from confining himself to Paris, Renoir flourished in the verdant, river-filled landscapes of the Ile-de-France region. Not only did he paint in Montmartre and Paris museums, but he also explored many specific locations in the Île-de-France region. In Louveciennes, Yvelines (78), he joined his friends Monet and Sisley to paint peaceful views of the village and the Seine. In Argenteuil (95), where Monet owned a house, Renoir regularly came to work alongside him, capturing the pastoral atmosphere of this waterside suburb. Further east, in Seine-et-Marne (77), although less well documented, some art historians mention excursions around Moret-sur-Loing with other Impressionist painters.
A few stations away from Paris, by taking the RER A, make a stopover in the footsteps of the Impressionists in Chatou, for a pleasant stroll along the water. [Read more]
These locations, both close to the capital and bathed in nature, offered Renoir an ideal playground for plein-air painting. He often worked here with Impressionist friends such as Claude Monet and Alfred Sisley. Together, they immortalized a region in the throes of change, between river tradition and burgeoning modernity. Although he never took up permanent residence here, Renoir maintained an intimate and regular relationship with the area, finding it a constant source of inspiration and wonder.
Renoir turned Paris and theÎle-de-France region into a veritable open-air studio. Even today, strolling in his footsteps, we can see the region differently, through a palette of colors, light and joie de vivre that allow us to see through his eyes, the landscapes that so inspired him.
Renoir at the Musée d'Orsay: Six Concerts to Blend Music and Impressionist Light in Spring 2026
From brushstrokes to musical strings, the Musée d’Orsay is celebrating Renoir from April 9 to June 9, 2026, with a series of six concerts where light and music intertwine. Spanning from lively Parisian cabarets to the intimate harmonies of Brahms and Schumann, each performance illuminates Renoir’s paintings as if each note were a splash of color on his canvas. [Read more]
Renoir Dessinateur: the first exhibition dedicated to Renoir's drawings at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
And what if Renoir had achieved more than just color? From March 17 to July 5, 2026, the Musée d'Orsay unveils Renoir Dessinateur, the first exhibition entirely devoted to his works on paper. A spotlight on the stroke of a master too long confined to his palette, through some one hundred drawings, sketches, studies and watercolors from around the world. [Read more]
Renoir and love: the retrospective exhibition at the Musée d'Orsay, Paris
When love becomes light, Renoir turns it into art. With the exhibition "Renoir et l'amour" (March 17 - July 19, 2026), the Musée d'Orsay brings together his major masterpieces for a retrospective as modern as it is tender, in collaboration with the National Gallery in London and the Museum of Fine Arts in Boston. [Read more]
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Things to do in the Montmartre neighborhood: Ideas for outings and great places to visit
The Musée de Montmartre in Paris: discover a historical and artistic treasure trove
Le Moulin de la Galette, the legendary Montmartre restaurant in Paris
Musée d'Orsay: booking, prices, free admission, tips and current exhibitions
Musée de l'Orangerie in Paris: programming, opening hours, history... All you need to know
A bucolic walk on the Impressionist Island in Chatou
