Impressionist Claude Monet is one of the most celebrated painters in history. He’s a favorite of people who aren’t even art connoisseurs. This year marks the 100th anniversary of his death, so there are quite a few celebrations and exhibits in France, as well as one in Tokyo and San Francisco.
San Francisco. After a successful stint at the Brooklyn Museum in New York earlier this year, the Monet and Venice exhibit is now at the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco through July 26th. It includes more than 20 of Monet’s group of Venetian paintings. It’s the first dedicated exploration of his Venetian works since their debut in 1912.
Tokyo. The Artizon Museum in Tokyo, Japan is currently housing a special Monet centenary exhibit that traces the development of the master’s career through places. It will display 90 works from Paris’s Musée d’Orsay, including 41 of the paintings by Monet that are the museum’s pride and joy, plus works from the Artizon Museum, other museums in Japan, and private collections, totaling approximately 140 works. The exhibit will close May 24th.
France. There are a number of special exhibits in France, as well as places to visit that were important in Monet’s life, as follows:
Musee de l’Orangerie, Paris. This spectacular museum in Paris will have a special Monet exhibit from September 30, 2026 to January 25, 2027 that includes 40 of his works. His masterpiece, the Nymphéas (Water Lilies) cycle, as well as his Rouen Cathedral series, will be part of the exhibit, along with a virtual reality segment called “Monet on the Water.” It “dives into Monet’s obsession with capturing the passage of time, in particular, the changing effect of light throughout the day.”
Musee Marmottan Monet, Paris. This museum in Paris, which already has the largest collection of Monet’s work, will honor him in particular from September 24, 2026 to January 31, 2027, centering on landscape art from 1890 to the present. The special exhibit will trace his influence and include paintings by his Impressionist contemporaries. (Incidentally, the area around this museum is one of favorites in Paris.)
Impressionist Lights Festival. On September 11th and 12th, the Fournaise Shore Hamlet of Yvelines and the Island of Impressionists in Chatou will host a free lights festival themed “Monet, a Dream Garden.” It’s easy to get to the Chatou-Croissy train station from Paris to see this light display.
Giverny. Of course, no tour in France dedicated to Monet would be complete without a visit to his famous home and gardens in Giverny. It’s an easy day trip of just over one hour from Paris and a must see. During this centennial year, Giverny’s Museum of Impressionism is staging an exhibition called “Before the Water Lilies,” consisting of 30 of the artist’s paintings. This will run until July 5th.
Le Havre. The port of Le Havre is less than three hours by train from Paris and where Monet painted Impression, Sunrise. Also, the Musee d’Art Moderne Andre Mairaux (MuMa) there will exhibit about 80 Monet early works from June 5th to September 27th, including caricatures, still-life drawings, and marine paintings.
Rouen. This beautiful town has a Musee des Beaux-Arts and its cathedral that was made famous by Monet in his paintings of it in different kinds of light. The Gothic cathedral is also illuminated at night with a colorful sound and light show called “Cathedral of Light.” The train trip from Paris to Rouen is about two hours depending on the time of day you travel. Highly recommended!
Maison Callebotte. Caillebotte was a friend and supporter of Monet’s, and his estate and grounds in Yerres, France have been restored and furnished as they existed during the painter’s time. This area also inspired about 90 of his paintings. It takes about 40 minutes to get to the estate from Paris.
Maison Impressionniste Argenteuil. This pink house with green shutters is a house other than Giverny where Monet lived for a period of time. He painted 260 canvasses there. It’s very close to Paris, so an easy day trip.
Vetheuil. Monet also lived in this village for a period of time, where he painted the hills, Seine scenes, and the church. It’s still much like it was during his life and less than two hours by train from Paris.
Melanie Votaw is the Publisher and Executive Travel Writer of LuxuryWeb Magazine. She has visited more than 50 countries on 6 continents and written for such magazines as Executive Travel, Just Luxe, Business Insider, South China Morning Post, Travel Mindset, and more. She is a member of the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association, New York Travel Writers Association, and International Travel Writers Alliance. Melanie's photography has won awards, and she has also written 43 nonfiction books as either the author or ghostwriter.
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