Walk around the Île de la Jatte

With the advent of trains in the 19th century, the Seine and its banks became a popular place for leisure and amusement. Parisians often came to this island to picnic or go boating, but some also came to make art. The Ile de la Jatte was particularly a source of inspiration for impressionist painters.

The 4-kilometre walk, starting from the metro station Pont-de-Levallois, pays tribute to Alfred Sisly, Claude Monet, Vincent Van Gogh and George Seurat, and immerses you in the romantic spirit of the Belle Époque period.

Life-size art

As you wander through the island’s picturesque parks and paths, you’ll see reproductions of ten emblematic paintings printed on panels, right where the artists set up their easels. “Sunday afternoon on the Grande Jatte” by the neo-impressionist Seurat, is on display at the beginning of the walk, right after Alexandre Nozal’s “L'embâcle de la Seine entre Asnières et Courbevoie.”

The reproduced paintings represent scenes of daily life or landscapes, each rendered on a scale that contrast with the life-sized setting in front of you. Soak in the beauty of masterpieces like Van Gogh’s “The Seine with the Grande Jatte Bridge,” or Monet’s “L’Île de la Grande Jatte.” You can also see some of the originals in Parisian museums. Alfred Sisly’s “The Island of la Grande Jatte” is on display the Musée d’Orsay and “Springtime Through Branches” by Claude Monet is held at the Marmottan Monet Museum.