A trip to France is a journey to the origins of timeless trends in fashion, winemaking, and literature. For many, France is the birthplace of great artists, innovative discoveries, and significant revelations in the art of painting. So, let’s set off on a journey in the footsteps of the masters who created their works in France!
Our original audio guides will help you delve deeper into the world of the great masters who created their works in this remarkable land. Go forth and find inspiration!
» READ MORE – Paris museums you have to see
Matisse
The Henri Matisse House Museum in Nice on the French Riviera is located in a picturesque setting: nearby are fragments of ancient Roman buildings, and the house itself is surrounded by a beautiful park. This historic building has been preserved since the 17th century when it was built for the consul of Nice.
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The artist’s museum in France opened in the early 1960s. It houses the largest collection of Matisse’s works, from his earliest to his latest. The museum’s halls showcase every facet of the master’s talent: graphics, ceramics, sculptures, paintings, collages, as well as sketches for works Matisse created to decorate the chapel in Vence.
Matisse lived in this house for almost 40 years, starting in 1918, and during that time he created a unique world within its walls. Visitors can get to know the artist through the books he read, the photographs he displayed, authentic interior items, and his personal belongings.
From the museum, you can take a short walk to the artist’s grave, located in the monastery cemetery in Cimiez.
- Visiting hours are from 10:00 a.m.
- Closed on Tuesdays and public holidays
- Guided tours are available upon request
| Matisse Museum | 4-day pass to museums in Nice | |
| Regular ticket | 12 € | 15 € |
| For groups of 10 or more people | 8 € | 10 € |
| Free admission to the Archaeological Museum next to the Matisse Museum. | Access to all municipal museums and galleries for 4 days. |
Monet
Giverny is a small town located 7 km from Vernon and known worldwide thanks to Claude Monet.
From 1883 to 1926, the impressionist artist lived in a house that has now become a museum. Inside, visitors can see Monet’s personal collection of Japanese art. Although none of his own paintings are displayed here, the highlight of the visit is the stunning garden that Monet planted himself over a hectare of land – a true earthly paradise.
Tour of Monet's house and gardensIn Giverny, you have the opportunity to see the nature that inspired the master, to experience the colours of the garden, the trees, and the flowers, and to feel the atmosphere captured in Monet’s paintings.
During the artist’s lifetime, the garden was divided by a railway line and later a motorway. Even today, it remains in two parts: one with the pink house and green shutters, and the other with a pond, canals, and graceful bridges.
Vernon is easy to reach from Paris or Rouen by train. From the station, you can walk to the Monet Museum through a dense, scenic garden. Alternatively, you can book a half-day or full-day organized tour from Paris.
- The museum is open during the tourist season (April to October)
- Daily from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Last admission at 5:30 p.m.
Independent visit for adults: from €12.50
Van Gogh
The Vincent Van Gogh Museum is located in Auvers-sur-Oise, in the house where the artist spent the final days of his life. Only 30 km from Paris, Auvers-sur-Oise is easily accessible by train or bus.
In the footsteps of Claude Monet and Vincent van GoghThe museum opened in 1985 in a small historic building. Here, in the room where Van Gogh lived and ultimately died in 1890, everything has been preserved just as it was during his lifetime. After his death, the room was never rented again, and all his belongings remained untouched. Visitors can climb the same creaky stairs, see the same views from the window, and step directly into the world Van Gogh inhabited.
- Open daily (except Tuesday) from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
- Duration of visit: about 30 minutes
In addition to the small room where Van Gogh lived, the museum features an interactive exhibition about his life in France. After visiting the house, you can stop by a nearby café that recreates the atmosphere of the late 19th century, down to the exact crockery seen in some of Van Gogh’s paintings.
You can also visit the graves of Vincent and his brother Theo in the local cemetery.
Adult ticket price: €10
If this visit inspires you, consider traveling to the Van Gogh Museum in Amsterdam for a broader look at his masterpieces.
Rodin
There are two museums dedicated to Auguste Rodin in France: one in Paris, near the Invalides on Rue de Varenne, and another in Meudon, a suburb of Paris.
At Rue de Varenne stands the Palais Biron. Inside is an extensive collection of drawings, photographs, and Rodin’s works in plaster, marble, and bronze. The museum garden features The Gates of Hell, surrounded by evergreen shrubs, with soft background music enhancing the immersive experience.
Rodin bequeathed his entire collection to the French state, including works by Renoir, Van Gogh, and Monet, as well as pieces from ancient Greek, Roman, Egyptian, and Oriental art.
The museum opened in 1919, two years after the sculptor’s death. Today, it also showcases sculptures by Camille Claudel and Paul Claudel.
You can book a guided tour of both the museum and garden.
Rodin’s villa in Meudon, purchased in 1895, is also surrounded by a beautiful garden. The sculptor himself is buried here alongside his beloved.
Chagall
The Marc Chagall Museum in Nice opened in 1973. Its location in France makes perfect sense once you learn about the artist’s life.
In 1910, a young Chagall moved to Paris on a scholarship to study painting, where he adopted the name Marc Chagall. During this period, he studied at several art schools, visited museums and exhibitions, and met many prominent artists.
Some of Chagall’s most celebrated works were created during these years, such as The Violinist, View of Paris from the Window, Me and the Village, and Above Vitebsk. These paintings combined his impressions of Paris with memories of his homeland.
Chagall later returned to Russia, where he experienced both acclaim and rejection. By the 1920s, he had settled back in Paris, where he lived and worked happily for many years. After emigrating to the United States during World War II, he returned to Paris in 1945 and continued his artistic journey until his death.
The museum’s collection began with 17 biblical-themed works and later expanded to include others, such as Noah’s Ark, The Creation of Man, and The Expulsion from Paradise. These works, inspired by Chagall’s journey to Palestine in the 1930s, reflect his deep spiritual exploration.
Prices outside the exhibition period:
- Full price: €8
- Groups (10 people or more): €6.50
Prices during exhibitions:
- Full price: €10
- Groups (10 people or more): €8.50
| Hours of operation | Lunch |
| 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| Tuesday is a day off, and from November 1 to April 30, opening hours are reduced to 5 p.m. | The garden and bookstore will be open during lunch break and until 5:30 p.m. |
Dali
The Salvador Dalí House Museum is located in Montmartre, Paris. It opened in 1991, two years after Dalí’s death. Although Spanish by birth, Dalí moved to Paris in 1926 after being expelled from the Academy of Fine Arts, where he met and befriended Pablo Picasso.
The exhibition features engravings and book illustrations for Don Quixote, Alice in Wonderland, Romeo and Juliet, and Gargantua and Pantagruel.
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Among the highlights are Dalí’s signature works: sculptures of elephants with elongated legs, melting clocks, figures of Alice, and surreal female forms with endless empty boxes.
- The museum is open daily from 10:00 a.m.
The shop sells original souvenirs inspired by Dalí’s work, books, and reproductions.
Salvador Dalí Museum: admission ticketTicket price: from €16
Children enter for free. Discounts are available for Paris Visite card holders, students, pensioners, teachers, and schoolchildren.
To reach the museum, take the Paris Metro to Abbesses station and enjoy a scenic walk past market stalls, street performers, and living statues, then take the funicular or walk up Montmartre’s charming streets.
Picasso
The Pablo Picasso Museum in Paris opened in 1985 and houses the world’s most comprehensive collection of the artist’s works, covering every stage of his career.
Visitors can explore Picasso’s blue period, cubist and surrealist works, as well as his paintings, sculptures, ceramics, engravings, and sketchbooks.
The museum also features works by other great artists such as Henri Matisse, Paul Cézanne, Henri Rousseau, and Edgar Degas, along with artworks collected by Picasso himself.
Entrance ticket to the Picasso MuseumThe museum is housed in the Hôtel de Salé, a 17th-century building in the Marais district. Historically, it was home to the École des Beaux-Arts, where notable figures such as Gustave Eiffel and Armand Peugeot studied.
Opening hours:
- Daily from 9:30 a.m., closed Tuesdays and public holidays
- Admission is free on the first Sunday of each month
- Regular ticket price: €16
- The museum is easily reached from the Saint-Paul metro station
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Renoir
Auguste Renoir’s house-museum, Les Collettes, is located in Cagnes-sur-Mer. After Renoir’s son passed away in 1960, the city purchased the estate to open a museum dedicated to the artist.
Renoir bought this home in 1907, hoping the Mediterranean climate would ease his rheumatic pain. Although his health did not improve, he continued to paint, even during the last seven years of his life when he could no longer bend his fingers and needed help holding a brush.
The house is a simple 19th-century farmhouse surrounded by orange and olive groves. Later, a second building with large, light-filled studios was added.
The interiors remain preserved as they were during Renoir’s life. Visitors can see his personal belongings, authentic easels, and many photographs. The museum houses the world’s largest collection of Renoir’s sculptures, along with paintings that depict the house, garden, nearby town, sea, and hills.
- There are also works by other artists such as Maillol and Bonnard
- Getting there: take a train or bus from Nice to Cagnes-sur-Mer
Ticket price: €6
| Hours of operation | Lunchtime | |
| From June to September | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| From October to March | 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| From April to May | 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | 12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. |
| Closed on Tuesdays and holidays | The gardens are open from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. | |
Cézanne
Aix-en-Provence, just 25 km from Marseille, is the birthplace of Paul Cézanne. His life was closely tied to this city, and he is buried here in the St. Peter cemetery.
Aix-en-Provence is filled with places connected to Cézanne. Special signs mark paths he once walked, allowing visitors to trace his footsteps. You can visit the school he attended, the café where he met friends, and houses where he lived and worked.
Cézanne’s studio, located on the hill of L’Hôte, has been preserved as a small museum. He worked here during the final four years of his life, beginning in 1902. Visitors can see his personal belongings, easel, letters, and sketches. This studio is where he created masterpieces like The Large Bathers.
Also worth visiting is Cézanne’s former family estate, Jas de Bouffan, which includes a small house and a beautiful park. It now features an interactive exhibition of his work and is open by appointment.
For nature lovers, tours are available to Mont Sainte-Victoire and the nearby abandoned quarries, both frequent subjects of Cézanne’s paintings.
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Travelling in the footsteps of great painters offers a unique journey into the mysteries of art – art that captures beauty and the essence of human creativity.
Have a wonderful trip exploring France and the museums of these great artists!
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