©The Fournaise house on the Île des Impressionnistes in Chatou

Artists' lands Chatou

“You won’t regret your trip – it’s the prettiest place on the outskirts of Paris”, is how Pierre-Auguste Renoir described Chatou, and more particularly the house of Father Fournaise and its cheerful bustle. Today, the Musée Fournaise invites you to immerse yourself in the history of this famous guinguette with an immersive exhibition. Not far away, the Sequana workshops can also be visited, with a fine collection of boats and canoes from the Belle Epoque. As you stroll through Chatou, you’ll also notice the street art frescoes that adorn the town’s walls, and then near the river banks, the MTO Museum of Sufi Art and Culture, which boasts a superb collection and a refreshing garden.

A little history

The history of Chatou dates back to Gallo-Roman times, but it was mainly in the Middle Ages that the town began to grow in importance. Mentioned as early as the XIᵉ century, Chatou was then a rural parish dominated by a few large noble families. Its religious heritage, such as the church of Notre-Dame de l’Assomption, still bears witness to this ancient era.

From the XVIIᵉ century onwards, Chatou became a country residence prized by the Parisian nobility and bourgeoisie, who built beautiful homes here, taking advantage of its proximity to the Seine and its verdant landscapes. The development of the railway in the XIXᵉ century further strengthened this appeal, transforming Chatou into a popular holiday resort.

But it was above all at the end of the XIXᵉ century that Chatou truly entered the history of art: the Île de Chatou (now known as the Île des Impressionnistes) became a mecca for artistic and festive life. Many Impressionist painters – Renoir, Monet, Sisley, Degas, Caillebotte – frequented the guinguettes at the Maison Fournaise, painted the banks of the Seine and took part in the cultural effervescence of the place.

In the XXᵉ century, the town continued to develop while preserving its identity between historical heritage, art of living, and nature in the city. Today, Chatou showcases this rich past through its museums, heritage tours and cultural events that pay tribute to its unique artistic history.

©A mother and son looking at the Street Art fresco on the Ile des Impressionistes in Chatou

©Seine Fournaise cycle ride|JOEL DAMASSE

We like : the Island of the Impressionists

Visit the Île des Impressionnistes between Chatou and Rueil-Malmaison

Located between Chatou and Rueil-Malmaison, the Île des Impressionnistes is a must-see destination for lovers of art, nature and history. At the heart of this island is the Fournaise hamlet, an emblematic site of the Impressionist movement that we highly recommend you discover.

As soon as you arrive, you’ll be greeted by the mural of a woman with a parasol, a poetic nod to a famous painting by Claude Monet. This work of street art is part of an artistic trail that will take you up to the heights of Chatou. This route pays tribute to the many artists who have frequented this area, including Pierre-Auguste Renoir, one of the most illustrious exponents of Impressionism.

Don’t miss a visit to the Fournaise museum, housed in a former guinguette that used to be a mecca for conviviality and artistic creation. To extend the experience, embark on a boat trip with Sequana, an association that perpetuates the nautical pleasures of yesteryear, as they were enjoyed during the Impressionist era.

Good plan

The Ile des Impressionnistes hosts numerous events throughout the year, including the Chatou Antiques Fair (in March and September) and the Cirque du Soleil, which will be setting up its big top in November.

Find out more

Sequana boat-restoration workshops

La Maison Fournaise Renoir the immersive experience

Sequana boat-restoration workshops

Piscine municipale Jean-François Henry

Poney-Club de l'Île

Hôtel B&B Louveciennes

Hôtel B&B Le Port-Marly

Charming furnished 2 room apartment

Our favourites The street art trail

Since 2021, the town of Chatou has been offering a unique artistic experience in the Île-de-France region with the launch of the “Street art invites itself to Impressionist Land” trail. This ambitious project came about thanks to an innovative collaboration between the town, the American NGO Street Art for Mankind and the Département des Yvelines.

In this first edition, six renowned international artists were invited to create monumental works directly inspired by Chatou’s local history and Impressionist heritage. These spectacular frescoes, some of them very large in scale, transform the town’s walls into a veritable open-air gallery.

Bolstered by its success, each year the route is enriched by new creations signed by the biggest names in contemporary street art. Today, 13 murals can be admired on an artistic stroll accessible to all, combining urban culture and Impressionist heritage.

Good to know

At Chatou you can also take a stroll along the Chemin des Impressionnistes, a trail lined with reproductions of paintings by Impressionist painters, the most famous being the one right next to Maison Fournaise, Renoir’s Déjeuner des Canotiers!

If you’d like to visit Chatou as a group, the Tourist Office offers guided tours, tours and cruises so don’t hesitate to contact our sales department!

The MTO Museum of Sufi Art and Culture

A new cultural venue opened its doors in 2024 on the banks of the river in Chatou: the MTO Museum of Sufi Art and Culture. The world’s first museum devoted entirely to Sufism, it features a unique collection of Sufi-related objects and contemporary artworks exploring Sufi teachings, history and culture.