A family weekend along the Seine

Try your hand at paddle boarding on the Seine with the Happy Seine organisation, which runs outings from Pont d’Issy (between Issy-les-Moulineaux and Boulogne-Billancourt). Standing balanced on your board, the Parisian ring road behind you, discover the charming green banks of Île Saint-Germain, dotted with colourful barges, then the iconic Île Seguin, once the site of the Renault factories and now dominated by the famous Seine Musicale and its revolutionary architecture (2017). Stunning in the morning light.

Back on dry land, you’ll probably have built up an appetite. For lunch, head to Île Saint-Germain where the Restaurant L’Île offers a wonderful sun room overlooking the surrounding natural environment. Children will love the large terrace and the seasonal menu has something for everyone.

Stay on the island to explore the vast Île Saint-Germain park, a hidden gem on the edge of Paris. Just imagine: 20 hectares of lush greenery made up of themed gardens, sweeping meadows and leafy paths. Kids will love the playgrounds and can enjoy a pony ride with theÎle Saint-Germain pony club.

Explore the park and see if you can find Tour aux Figures, an emblematic work of art by Jean Dubuffet (1988). Download the Géosculpture app (free on AppStore and Google Play) to learn more about the amazing monument and find other sculptural treasures in Hauts-de-Seine Yvelines (you could even with a prize!). Follow the guide from Île Seguin where you can seek out another masterpiece, The Thumb, by César, which stands proudly before the Seine Musicale. Thumbs up for this 6-metre-high thumb!

To round off your day by the Seine, what better than a night on the river? At Louveciennes (17 km west of Boulogne-Billancourt), take the helm of an authentic barge converted into a comfortable dwelling. Rustle up some dinner then sleep onboard, lulled by the gentle lapping of the Seine.

Moored at Louveciennes, here you in the heart of a region of artists, from Money to Sisley. The great Impressionists of the late 19th century loved the banks of the Seine, the charming green surroundings and the shimmering silver reflections. A wonderful demonstration is to be found in Musée Fournaise, on Île des Impressionnistes at Chatou (6 km upstream from Louveciennes), where you can enjoy an immersive experience exploring the work of Auguste Renoir. Even your young children will be dazzled by the holograms!

Renoir used the balcony of Maison Fournaise as inspiration for his famous “Luncheon of the Boating Party” in 1880. Relive the scene as you sit down at the nearby Les Rives de la Courtille restaurant. The terrace, located on the water’s edge, exudes timeless charm and the children’s menu is just ideal!

Complete your Impressionist expedition by taking the Monet circuit from Chatou to Bougival. As you follow the riverside path (3.5km; electric bicycles available to hire from the Chatou tourist information office in summer), you’ll discover the landscapes depicted by the painter from the very spots he placed his easel.

Finally, enjoy one last boat trip on a Zodiac inflatable vessel at Nautic Park in Bougival: here the riverbanks remain surprising unspoilt and you’ll feel as if you’re sailing through an Impressionist painting. A wonderful outdoor introduction to art!