By walk on the île de la Chaussée
The island of la Chaussée, named after the château de la Chaussée situated on the opposite bank of the Seine, is part of the history of Bougival. It is an area for walks, today enlivened by numerous leisure activities, which keeps the memories of the impressionist artists who chose to paint the landscapes of the banks of the River Seine (Le quai à Bougival, Berthe Morisot). In 1858, this island became accessible via a bridge (Le Pont de Bougival, Claude Monet). Berthe Morisot echoes rural life and choses the haymaking moment to paint (Les foins, Berthe Morisot). When Monet, returning from la Grenouillère, where he painted with his friend Renoir, stops to capture the last effects of the sun on the water, he shows us beautiful lansdscape of hills extending up to the aqueduc of Marly where a boat slides into silence (The Seine at Bougival in the evening, Claude Monet). Along the path of the island which links “Le Bal des Canotiers” to “La Grenouillère”, famous places of entertainment, Auguste Renoir and Alfred Lebourg will take an interest in the banks of the Seine. The latter describes the stillness of nature (Bougival in summer, Albert Lebourg) whereas Auguste Renoir brings to life in his paintings, shared moments by characters posing in establishments such as l’Hôtel de la Terrasse(Les deux sœurs ou Sur La Terrasse), at the Bal des Canotiers, and even carries us away to waltz with Suzanne Valadon in his famous painting : La Danse à Bougival.
An invitation to the serenity in front of the Hill of the Impressionists.