Du Côté des Renoir
Art, impressionism and Renoir heritage in Essoyes en Champagne
About Du Côté des Renoir
Essoyes, Renoir's village in Champagne
Essoyes, a small village in the Ource valley in the Aube region, is intimately linked to the history of Pierre-Auguste Renoir. The impressionist painter regularly stayed there from 1888, charmed by the luminous landscapes of this Champagne countryside, and set up his studio there. It was in Essoyes that Renoir painted some of his most beautiful canvases, and it is in the village cemetery that Pierre-Auguste, Aline, and their sons Pierre, Jean, and Claude Renoir are buried.
A unique cultural journey
The Du Côté des Renoir festival offers a complete cultural journey around the world of Renoir. Visitors can discover the Renoir Cultural Center, which hosts temporary contemporary art exhibitions and retrospectives related to Impressionism. A visit to the Renoir House, restored in the spirit of the time, and the painter's Studio, preserved in its original state with its brushes, palettes, and easel, is a moving and unique experience.
Exhibitions, activities, and festive events
From May to November, the festival unfolds a rich program: temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists at the Cultural Center, themed guided tours, painting workshops, conferences on Impressionism, and festive events. The 42nd edition in 2025 coincided with the 150th anniversary of Impressionism, offering an exceptional program combining art and sport from the Belle Époque. Artists such as Manuel Costa (CostaM) and Julie Karl, a watercolorist of Champagne landscapes, exhibited there.
A classified living heritage
The Du Côté des Renoir site is a place of living heritage that contributes to the cultural and tourist influence of the Aube region and the Côte des Bar. Renoir's garden and studio, the village alleys dotted with reproductions of paintings, and the "On the footsteps of Renoir" walking trail offer an immersive experience in the painter's world, at the crossroads of art, history, and the Champagne terroir.
Du Côté des Renoir — edition 2026
The 43rd season of Du Côté des Renoir takes place from May 1st to November 1st, 2026, in Essoyes (Aube), between the Renoir Cultural Center, the family home, and the painter's studio. On the program: three temporary exhibitions by contemporary artists at the Cultural Center, an immersive exhibition «Renoir in his Residences» in the family home, the show «Une amitié sans clap de fin» for Museum Night, Cemetery Spring, and European Heritage Days.
43rd Season 2026: Six Months of Art and Heritage in Essoyes
From May 1st to November 1st, 2026, the Du Côté des Renoir site presents its 43rd season in Essoyes, a Champagne village where Pierre-Auguste Renoir lived for thirty summers. The itinerary connects the Renoir Cultural Center, the family home, and the painter's studio preserved in its original state, with a program of exhibitions, shows, and heritage events spanning the entire season.
Three Exhibitions at the Renoir Cultural Center
The Cultural Center successively hosts three contemporary artists with free access during opening hours:
- Art Moris (May 7 – June 28, 2026) — nomadic Franco-Italian painter, landscapes and urban views
- Victor Baroni (July 4 – August 30, 2026) — abstract art inspired by stone and crystal textures
- Patrick Baal (September 12 – November 1st, 2026) — trompe-l'œil watercolors blending illusion and poetry
«Renoir in his Residences» in the Family Home
From June 20 to September 20, 2026, the family home presents the exhibition Renoir in his Residences, an intimate exploration of the residences that marked the life of the painter and his wife Aline, from Essoyes to Cagnes-sur-Mer, through documentary archives, photographs, and original works by the master. Access via the Renoir Pass or the House & Studio ticket.
Season Activities and Events
Several highlights punctuate the 2026 season:
- Cemetery Spring — Saturday, May 9, 2026, on the theme «Mayors of yesterday, memory of today» (Bar-sur-Seine 2:15 PM, Loches-sur-Ource 4:30 PM, Essoyes 6:30 PM, free admission, no reservation required)
- Museum Night — Saturday, May 16 at 7 PM and Sunday, May 17 at 5 PM, show Une amitié sans clap de fin by Compagnie Chemindessens, which stages the 1941 meeting between writer Antoine de Saint-Exupéry and filmmaker Jean Renoir (pay-what-you-can, no reservation required)
- European Heritage Days — Saturday, September 19 and Sunday, September 20, 2026, guided tours of the Renoir House & Studio with reduced rate
A Site Labeled Maisons des Illustres
The Du Côté des Renoir site benefits from the Maisons des Illustres label awarded by the Ministry of Culture and participates in the Impressionnisms Routes network. Visits to the family home and the Studio are audioguided; allow two hours to explore the entire itinerary.
Programme Du Côté des Renoir 2026
May 2026
- Sat. May 9 — Cemetery Spring: «Mayors of yesterday, memory of today» — Bar-sur-Seine 2:15 PM · Loches-sur-Ource 4:30 PM · Essoyes 6:30 PM (free admission, no reservation required)
- From May 7 to June 28 — Exhibition Art Moris, nomadic Franco-Italian painter · Renoir Cultural Center (free admission)
- Sat. May 16 7 PM / Sun. May 17 5 PM — Museum Night: show Une amitié sans clap de fin by Compagnie Chemindessens · Renoir Cultural Center (pay-what-you-can)
June 2026
- From June 20 to September 20 — Exhibition Renoir in his Residences · Family Home (Renoir Pass or House & Studio ticket)
July – August 2026
- From July 4 to August 30 — Exhibition Victor Baroni, abstract art inspired by stone and crystal · Renoir Cultural Center (free admission)
September 2026
- From September 12 to November 1st — Exhibition Patrick Baal, trompe-l'œil watercolors · Renoir Cultural Center (free admission)
- Sat. September 19 and Sun. September 20 — European Heritage Days: guided tours of the Renoir House & Studio, reduced rate
Highlights Du Côté des Renoir 2026
- 43rd season, from May 1st to November 1st, 2026, in a village labeled Maisons des Illustres
- Immersive exhibition «Renoir in his Residences» in the family home from June 20 to September 20
- Three contemporary exhibitions with free access at the Cultural Center: Art Moris, Victor Baroni, Patrick Baal
- Museum Night with the show «Une amitié sans clap de fin» (Saint-Exupéry meets Jean Renoir)
- Audioguided visit of the Studio preserved in its original state, with the painter's brushes, palettes, and easel
Prices Du Côté des Renoir 2026
Practical information — Du Côté des Renoir
Access
Du Côté des Renoir is located in Essoyes (10360), in the Aube department (Grand Est), in the heart of the Côte des Bar.
- By car: From Troyes (50 km), take the D671 then the D67. From Bar-sur-Seine (15 km), take the D67.
- Parking: Free parking near the Cultural Center.
Prices
- Full guided tour: €8 per adult, free for under 18s and students
- Self-guided tour: €5 per person
- Temporary exhibitions: Free access during opening hours
Opening Hours
Open from May to November. Consult the website for detailed hours by season.
Contact
- Phone: 03 25 29 10 94
- Email: [email protected]
- Website: renoir-essoyes.fr
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Where does it take place — Du Côté des Renoir
Centre Culturel Renoir, Maison et Atelier Renoir
9 place de la Mairie, 10360 Essoyes