My wife and I will be in Paris the first week of December. We both have a thing for Seurat's "Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte" (and Sondheim's "Sunday in the Park with George" for that matter). For those who might know, do you think it is worth a trip one morning or afternoon out to Île de la Grande Jatte? Is there still something worth seeing? Other things to do there? Is it easily accessible by metro and how long would it take?
Thanks for any help or advice!
(I noticed some info on this forum, but the posts were almost 10 years old.)
Île de la Grande Jatte worth visiting while in Paris?
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I'm not sure you should let others decide that for you, one way or the other. Anyway, I'm not sure how long you will in Paris the first week in December. The whole week? Ever been to Paris before? What's your attention span? How much do things have to be a big wow before you lose interest? Will you be giving up something else you want to do in order to make this sentimental journey?
Have you tried Google for answers?
http://www.atkielski.com/PhotoGallery/Paris/General/LaGrandeJatteSmall.html
(Maybe you'll get lucky and see a monkey.)
(I'd bet my next to last sou that Stephen Sondheim went there.)
I just came back from a walk with my dog on Ile de la Jatte.
It is a nice walk along the water, lots of joggers and dogs, swans and ducks in the water, but no real "WOW" factor.
They have put together what is called "le parcours des impressionnistes", which is a 4 km walk around the island with 10 reproductions of paintings related to ile de la jatte - among them the Seurat painting.
http://www.tourisme92.com/parcours-des-impressionnistes.html
Sometimes in the winter months the water level of the Seine is so high that the benches in the photo from vietritiles post above is under water...
I think it depends on how much time you've already spent in Paris before, how important the painting is to you, and generally what sorts of things appeal to you. I've been there, but I went on probably my 40th or more visit to Paris. It's nothing earth-shattering, but it was pleasant, and a chance to feel out of bounds of the cityscape. I found the Ile des Impressionistes much more interesting, though, as well as Auvers-sur-Oise. As for getting there, it's near Neuilly, so I imagine you can take the RER to get there. I got there on public transportation, though I can't remember exactly how - the www.ratp.com site should be able to clarify that for you.
I recommend Cafe de la Jatte on the Ile; I had a great lunch there, invited by a French friend. This was several years ago so maybe someone has eaten there more recently and could give a more up to date review. It was in March and snowing (!), and it was a long walk from the Metro or RER, can't remember which.
Yes - but you will be there in December. The picnic did not take place in December - but in the summer.
I think it's a great idea - fi it were not the middle of winter.
Thanks so much. Good to hear that there's still a park and a cafe. That's good enough for me. We may try it if we can nail down best way to get out there.
To go to the island, the easiest way would be to take line 1 to Pont de Neuilly, then walking toward the river facing La Défense, you turn right before crossing the bridge