Simply 10 minutes from Paris, Argenteuil is a perfect city for a day’s getaway combining tradition, historical past and leisure. With its Impressionist Home, its Basilica, the stays of its abbey and its open-air museum, this city within the Val-d’Oise affords a wide range of actions and websites to find.
So what are you able to do in Argenteuil? What are you able to see ? And what are the most effective addresses within the city ? Right here’s a sensible information to profiting from your go to to Argenteuil.
Article produced in collaboration with the town of Argenteuil
Argenteuil in short
Easy methods to get there Argenteuil is well accessible from Paris by public transport. Transilien line J, departing from Gare Saint-Lazare, serves Argenteuil station in round 10 minutes. To plan your journey, you should utilize the RATP web site.
A getaway for the worth of a metro ticket!
Because the introduction of the only metro ticket fare all through the Île-de-France area, going to Argenteuil prices you simply €2.5!
When to go? Argenteuil is nice to go to all 12 months spherical. Nevertheless, spring and summer season are significantly good instances to benefit from the gardens and out of doors walks. As well as, particular cultural occasions can affect the selection of once you go to. For instance, in 2025, the distinctive ostension of the Holy Gown takes place from 18 April to 11 Could. Discover out extra.
For whom? Argenteuil is aimed toward a large viewers.
- Artwork and historical past lovers: the city is full of historic and inventive websites.
- Households: inexperienced areas and child-friendly actions can be found.
- Music followers: the native music scene affords a wide range of live shows.
What to do in Argenteuil? The 5 must-do actions
The Impressionist Home : within the footsteps of Claude Monet
Positioned in an enthralling mansion a stone’s throw from the station, the Claude Monet Impressionist Home is a must-see for artwork lovers. It was right here, in Argenteuil, on this ” pink home with inexperienced shutters ” that Monet settled from 1874 to 1878, a interval throughout which he produced 259 work, 156 of which depict the city. The home has now been restored to supply guests a glimpse into the world of Impressionism.
Inside, there aren’t any authentic work, however projections of works, details about Monet’s life and his relationship with the city of Argenteuil. Throughout your go to, don’t hesitate to open the drawers, which generally cover a number of surprises!
Upstairs, the scenography evokes the boat-studio during which Monet labored on the Seine at Argenteuil.
It’s a home I actually like, it feels a bit like dwelling. You possibly can actually have a drink within the natural tea room, with a stunning view over the backyard!
Deal with: 21 boulevard Karl-Marx
Opening hours: variable based on the season, seek the advice of the official web site
Charges: €5, diminished charge €3.50, free for kids underneath 12
The Basilica of Saint-Denys and the Holy Tunic
Within the coronary heart of the city centre, the basilica of Saint-Denys in Argenteuil is a historic monument with a really sober exterior, however for 1200 years it has housed a novel relic: the Holy Tunic of Christ. In keeping with Christian custom, that is the garment woven by the Virgin for her son, which Jesus is claimed to have worn throughout his Ardour (the occasions main as much as his dying). Given to Charlemagne by the empress Irene of Byzantium, this relic was deposited round 803 within the abbey of Sainte-Marie d’Argenteuil earlier than being transferred to the basilica in 1791.
Deal with: Place Saint-Denys, 95100 Argenteuil
The Ostension of the Holy Gown in 2025
Normally, the Holy Tunic is rolled up in a reliquary, however on very uncommon events, it’s introduced to pilgrims throughout an Ostension. This would be the case this 12 months, from 18 April to 11 Could 2025, on the event of the Pope’s jubilee.
To mark the event, various particular occasions will likely be happening all through the town, together with the Nuits des Lumières, a spectacular mapping of the Basilica.
Les Jardins de l’Abbaye Notre-Dame and l’Atelier : free exhibitions in a peaceable setting
Behind the basilica lie the gardens of the previous Notre-Dame Abbey, a verdant house imbued with serenity. This former Benedictine convent has a wealthy historical past!
Heloise’s abbey
Chances are you’ll know the well-known story of Héloïse and Abélard : Héloïse, a younger lady of 16, and her trainer, the scholar Pierre Abélard, fell in love. Nevertheless, Héloïse’s uncle refused the union. The 2 lovers eloped and married, however Heloise’s uncle had them prosecuted to castrate Abelard. After this tragedy, the lovers separated and each entered holy orders, and Héloïse took the veil on the Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Argenteuil.
This very affluent convent attracted the eye of Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis, who drove out the nuns and turned it right into a priory for males. Throughout the French Revolution, the abbey was bought to be used as a stone quarry, and the final traces of it disappeared till 1989, when archaeological excavations revealed the stays, which might now be seen by the general public and are situated proper subsequent to an enthralling backyard.
The positioning can be dwelling to L’Atelier, an exhibition and cultural exercise house run by the city, housed in a constructing on a former industrial web site. All year long, you may uncover free exhibitions right here. Till 20 July 2025, the ” Impressions urbaines #2 ” exhibition options works by 21 worldwide road artists, a few of whom have created frescoes in Argenteuil.
Deal with: 19 rue Notre-Dame
Opening hours: Wednesdays and Saturdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.; Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Throughout the interval when the Holy Tunic is on show, open Tuesday via Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Charges: free admission.
Road artwork within the metropolis: an open-air museum
Argenteuil is a city that has embraced city artwork with originality. A veritable course of murals has developed through the years, showcasing native and worldwide artists reminiscent of C215, Hopare, Jérôme Mesnager and Nexer.
At present, various large-format frescoes adorn the town’s partitions: portraits, surrealist scenes, performs on color… Road artwork right here is various and completely built-in into the city house.
Discover the situation of all of the works on this on-line map
Attend a live performance at La Cave
To spherical off your journey to Argenteuil, spend a night atLa Cave, an iconic live performance venue and an actual cultural hotspot within the Val-d’Oise. This intimate venue, with its heat atmosphere, presents artists from all horizons: jazz, rock, French chanson, world music, electro, stand-up… with rising artists in addition to headliners at costs which are unbeatable within the Paris area: €15 for adults, €12 for under-26s and €5 for kids.
The venue has two rooms: a former Thirteenth-century vaulted cellar remodeled into an intimate efficiency house, and a extra trendy 145-seat venue.
For musicians, La Cave additionally has studios and a assist programme (teaching, recommendation, masterclasses) to assist artists develop their tasks.
Deal with: 107 rue Paul Vaillant-Couturier
Programming: seek the advice of on the official web site lacave.argenteuil.fr
The place to eat? A number of good addresses in Argenteuil
Between two visits, Argenteuil has loads of eating places so that you can take a culinary break :
- La Desk de Mona : for a lunch filled with flavour with seasonal delicacies, recent, home-made produce.
- Connoisseur’s café : a household system with a rigorously crafted menu.
- La Maison Héloïse : a patisserie with many decisions together with 2 authentic creations within the picture of Sainte-Tunique.
- Picolo : a wine and delicatessen store providing a collection of sandwiches in addition to a bistro system.
- Au bout du bar : someplace between a brasserie and a classy bistro for conventional delicacies in a pleasant, fashionable setting.
Interactive map
Discover all of the addresses talked about on this article on this interactive map.
Tip : use the menu on the precise to filter outcomes based on your pursuits.
So when are you going to Argenteuil?
Article produced in collaboration with the town of Argenteuil
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