A lot of our clients visiting Paris also venture to the countryside heading to Normandy & its rich cultural heritage. We decided just recently to propose our gourmet picnic experience in Normandy territory! We are quite thrilled to propose this new exciting experience to our clients. Indeed the region of Normandy boasts a rich heritage of medieval architecture, Viking history, including the stunning Mont-Saint-Michel, D-Day landing beaches, Impressionist art around Giverny, and world-renowned cuisine, as well as Camembert cheese and cider. Normandy is a land of history and art, some 200 km ouest of Paris, where past and present merge in breathtaking harmony.
Normandy’s beauty is a blend of dramatic costal cliffs, rolling green countryside and charming villages. The D-Day beaches stand as solemn witnesses to history, where bravery shaped the modern world.
The region’s light and landscapes from the seine valley to the coast, inspired the impressionist movement, with Monet capturing its ethereal essence. If you’re looking to follow in the footsteps of Monet and the Impressionists in Normandy, you’re in for a beautiful journey through some of France’s most picturesque landscapes.
Giverny is really on top of our list. Start your journey in Giverny, where Claude Monet lived and worked for over 40 years. Visit his house and gardens, including the famous water lily pond and the Japanese bridge, which inspired some of his most iconic paintings. Stop by the Musée des Impressionnismes to see works by Monet’s contemporaries.
The village of Vétheuil, impressionist country.
Vétheuil is a picturesque village in northern France, located in the Île-de-France region, along the banks of the Seine River. It lies about 60 km northwest of Paris and near the border with Normandy. The village is famous for its connection to Claude Monet, who lived there and painted many scenes of its landscapes.
The village is located some 15km from Giverny and Monet’s gardens. We set up our deco style gourmet picnic on the rivers edge where Monet once painted some of his most famous early work such as the painting above. Sitting on the Seine, overlooking Vétheuil, feels like stepping into an Impressionist painting. The soft ripples of the river reflect the changing sky, mirroring the hues that once inspired Monet.
The village, nestled among rolling hills, exudes a quiet charm, with its stone houses and the striking silhouette of the church he painted many times. There’s a timeless tranquility—birds gliding over the water, the scent of wildflowers in the air, and a golden glow in the late afternoon that makes everything feel poetic. It’s a place where art and nature blend seamlessly, inviting reflection and peace.
Normandy Style gourmet picnic menu.
Our impressionist style gourmet picnic is set up with our deco style picnic set. The set includes our traditional style gourmet picnic baskets where we keep our goodies for the afternoon. The set includes vintages mats to sit on as well as designer cushions. We will lay over various blankets and cashmere plaids. You will enjoy our retro style umbrellas to shade the food from the sun. They also come quite handy as props for photos. Included a customized menu, candles and a few surprises.
A typical Norman picnic menu would celebrate the region’s rich culinary heritage with fresh, local ingredients. Here’s what you might find in your Normandy style picnic basket:
🥖 Baguette & Bread – A fresh, crusty baguette or pain de campagne.
🧀 Cheeses – Camembert, Pont-l’Évêque, and Livarot, all famous Normandy cheeses.
🍖 Charcuterie – Slices of saucisson, pâté de campagne, or rillettes.
🐟 Seafood – Perhaps some smoked salmon or rillettes de la mer.
🍏 Apples & Pears – Fresh or as a compote, reflecting Normandy’s famous orchards.
🥗 Salad – A light salad with apple slices and walnuts, dressed with local cider vinegar.
🥧 Tarte Normande – A delicious apple tart with cream and Calvados.
Our Normandy picnics are served with champagne.
A Romantic Picnic in the French countryside.
A picnic in the French countryside is a moment suspended in time—where nature, nostalgia, and indulgence blend seamlessly. For the romantic, it is a dream of golden fields, dappled light filtering through ancient trees, and the gentle hum of bees dancing over wildflowers. A linen cloth spread upon soft grass, a wicker basket brimming with warm bread, ripe cheese, and a bottle of chilled cider. Laughter drifts lazily on the breeze, mingling with the scent of apples and lavender.
For the Proustian soul, it is a quiet reverie, a communion with memory. The crunch of a baguette, the delicate sweetness of a madeleine dipped in cider, the distant toll of a church bell—each sensation unlocking forgotten moments, echoes of childhood summers, or past loves. Time slows, the world dissolves into light and texture, and for a fleeting instant, one is both here and elsewhere, lost in the poetry of the present and the past.
A Romantic Picnic for Lovers, minutes from Monets gardens.
We do LOVE heading to Giverny to visit Monets gardens at least a couple of time each year. It is sometimes a matter of waking up early to skip the crowd. Even better is to stay at a traditional residence over night so that you can grasp the full pleasures of a French countryside lost in time still.
The best time to visit Monet’s Gardens in Giverny depends on what kind of floral beauty you wish to experience:
🌸 Spring (April – May): A magical time when the gardens awaken with tulips, daffodils, wisteria, and cherry blossoms. The air is crisp, and the crowds are moderate.
🌿 Early Summer (June – July): The most vibrant season, with roses, irises, peonies, and poppies in full bloom. Monet’s famous water lilies start appearing on the pond, creating an iconic scene.
🍂 Late Summer – Early Autumn (August – October): The water lilies are at their peak, and the gardens take on warm golden hues. It’s quieter than mid-summer but still enchanting, especially in September.
🕰 Best Time of Day: Arrive early morning (right at opening) or late afternoon to avoid crowds and capture the best light for photos—just as Monet would have seen it. By the way, mentioning photos, we do have the best photographer should you be interested in having some professional photos taken either with your partner of the family. A professional photo session is a lot of fun and the opportunity to take beautiful memories back home.
A Gourmet Picnic on the coast of Normandy.
The D-Day beaches of Normandy were the landing sites for Operation Overlord, the Allied invasion of Nazi-occupied France on June 6, 1944. This marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe during World War II.The D-Day memorial sites along the Normandy coast are deeply moving tributes to the bravery and sacrifice of Allied forces on June 6, 1944. Key locations include:
🪖 Omaha Beach & Normandy American Cemetery – A vast, solemn cemetery in Colleville-sur-Mer overlooking the landing beaches, with 9,388 white crosses marking fallen soldiers.
🏛 Caen Memorial Museum – A comprehensive museum in Caen that provides powerful insights into WWII, the Battle of Normandy, and the road to peace.
🌊 Pointe du Hoc – Clifftop German bunkers and craters still visible from the fierce fighting as U.S. Rangers scaled the cliffs under fire.
🎖 Juno Beach Centre – A museum dedicated to the Canadian forces who landed at Juno Beach.
🚢 Arromanches-Les-Bains – The remains of the artificial harbor used by the Allies to bring in supplies after the landings.
Each site tells a powerful story of courage, sacrifice, and liberation, making a visit both humbling and unforgettable. Would you like recommendations for a guided tour?
How to order your destination gourmet picnic in Normandy?
Our Normandy gourmet picnics are a new venture! We are really excited at the idea to propose our Normandy picnics to our clients this coming season. We do offer a few locations around Giverny as well as a few sites along the coast of Normandy. It is really best to reach out via email should you be interested in one of our Normandy destination Picnic.
Each of our gourmet picnics are set up with our deco picnic items such as plaids, retro style umbrellas, designer cushions, vintage mats to sit on …
It is a perfect idea to experience a true French style tradition while visiting the region. Perfect for a romantic afternoon with your spouse and a family of four.
We are looking forward to hearing back from all of you with your ideas.
Love Picnic Paris
