While remaining in Normandy, this small village of a thousand souls has nonetheless toured the world. Paintings, literature, cinema… the greatest artists have flocked here to capture the unique magnetism of the place, which could be likened to a veritable visual poem. In the already long and tempting list of exhibitions to see in Lyon at the moment, this one is likely to make it into our top 3, in all categories, in a snap of the fingers.
Étretat, par-delà les falaises” (“Étretat, beyond the cliffs”)
Even if our Lyonnais penchant should declare our Gros Caillou or Roche de Solutré the winners, let’s face it: Étretat, though located much further away, wins the competition. Its cliffs are known the world over, and we owe it all to the wave of artists and authors who flocked to this fishing village during the XIXᵉ century.
Guy de Maupassant, Victor Hugo, Gustave Courbet, Claude Monet, Henri Matisse, or even more recently Sylvain Tesson… brushstrokes or pencil strokes, they all fell in love with Étretat. And when you look at all these masterpieces, you can’t help but be struck by this artistic heritage, soon to be reunited in Lyon.
An impressive collection assembled for the occasion
The exhibition brings together paintings, texts, photos and drawings. Thanks to a partnership with the Städel Museum in Frankfurt am Main (Lyon’s twin city since 1960), the Musée des Beaux-Arts de Lyon has been able to bring together four major works: two by Gustave Courbet (Vagues), and two by Claude Monet(Le Déjeuner and Mer agitée à Étretat), all painted in Étretat itself, which will serve as the exhibition’s highlight.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2IdiIyzIzfQ
However, this enchanting setting should not blind us to the fact that Étretat is under threat from over-visiting and global warming, which is eroding the cliffs that are the site’s ultimate emblem. The exhibition asks how this cliff, by definition unshakeable, is seeing its days diminish, through the prism of these timeless masterpieces.
Musée des Beaux Arts de Lyon, 20 place des Terreaux, Lyon 1
Date: from November 29, 2025
👉 More info