In Asnières-sur-Seine, the Impressionist trail follows the banks of the Seine between Pont d'Asnières and Pont de Clichy. Six bilingual French-English interpretation panels place landscapes painted by Seurat, Paul Signac and Vincent van Gogh alongside today's urban scenery.
Why is this trail important?
In 1884, Georges Seurat painted Bathers at Asnières, a major work in the emergence of Neo-Impressionism. Paul Signac later explored the separation of colours, while Van Gogh also depicted the town's bridges, factories, restaurants and riverbanks.
What do you see along the walk?
The trail compares the paintings with a landscape that has changed considerably since the late 19th century. This contrast is precisely what makes the visit worthwhile: towpaths, bridges, industrial architecture and leisure sites look different through each artist's eyes.
Before you visit
The trail is advertised as free and accessible year-round. It is a self-guided walk along the Seine, with no fixed tour times.
The extra touch
Start with Bathers at Asnières, then compare the paintings of Signac and Van Gogh to discover how three painters interpreted the same place using very different techniques and artistic intentions.
