Just 10 minutes from Paris, Argenteuil is an ideal town for a day’s getaway combining culture, history and relaxation. With its Impressionist House, its Basilica, the remains of its abbey and its open-air museum, this town in the Val-d’Oise offers a variety of activities and sites to discover.
So what can you do in Argenteuil? What can you see ? And what are the best addresses in the town ? Here’s a practical guide to making the most of your visit to Argenteuil.
Article produced in collaboration with the city of Argenteuil
Argenteuil in brief
How to get there Argenteuil is easily accessible from Paris by public transport. Transilien line J, departing from Gare Saint-Lazare, serves Argenteuil station in around 10 minutes. To plan your journey, you can use the RATP website.
A getaway for the price of a metro ticket!
Since the introduction of the single metro ticket fare throughout the Île-de-France region, going to Argenteuil costs you just €2.5!
When to go? Argenteuil is pleasant to visit all year round. However, spring and summer are particularly good times to enjoy the gardens and outdoor walks. In addition, specific cultural events can influence the choice of when you visit. For example, in 2025, the exceptional ostension of the Holy Robe takes place from 18 April to 11 May. Find out more.
For whom? Argenteuil is aimed at a wide audience.
- Art and history lovers: the town is packed with historic and artistic sites.
- Families: green spaces and child-friendly activities are available.
- Music fans: the local music scene offers a variety of concerts.
What to do in Argenteuil? The 5 must-do activities
The Impressionist House : in the footsteps of Claude Monet
Located in a charming mansion a stone’s throw from the station, the Claude Monet Impressionist House is a must-see for art lovers. It was here, in Argenteuil, in this ” pink house with green shutters ” that Monet settled from 1874 to 1878, a period during which he produced 259 paintings, 156 of which depict the town. The house has now been restored to offer visitors a glimpse into the world of Impressionism.
Inside, there are no original paintings, but projections of works, information about Monet’s life and his relationship with the town of Argenteuil. During your visit, don’t hesitate to open the drawers, which sometimes hide a few surprises!
Upstairs, the scenography evokes the boat-studio in which Monet worked on the Seine at Argenteuil.
It’s a house I really like, it feels a bit like home. You can even have a drink in the herbal tea room, with a lovely view over the garden!
Address: 21 boulevard Karl-Marx
Opening hours: variable according to the season, consult the official website
Rates: €5, reduced rate €3.50, free for children under 12
The Basilica of Saint-Denys and the Holy Tunic
In the heart of the town centre, the basilica of Saint-Denys in Argenteuil is a historic monument with a very sober exterior, but for 1200 years it has housed a unique relic: the Holy Tunic of Christ. According to Christian tradition, this is the garment woven by the Virgin for her son, which Jesus is said to have worn during his Passion (the events leading up to his death). Given to Charlemagne by the empress Irene of Byzantium, this relic was deposited around 803 in the abbey of Sainte-Marie d’Argenteuil before being transferred to the basilica in 1791.
Address: Place Saint-Denys, 95100 Argenteuil
The Ostension of the Holy Robe in 2025
Usually, the Holy Tunic is rolled up in a reliquary, but on very rare occasions, it is presented to pilgrims during an Ostension. This will be the case this year, from 18 April to 11 May 2025, on the occasion of the Pope’s jubilee.
To mark the occasion, a number of special events will be taking place throughout the city, including the Nuits des Lumières, a spectacular mapping of the Basilica.
Les Jardins de l’Abbaye Notre-Dame and l’Atelier : free exhibitions in a peaceful setting
Behind the basilica lie the gardens of the former Notre-Dame Abbey, a verdant space imbued with serenity. This former Benedictine convent has a rich history!
Heloise’s abbey
You may know the famous story of Héloïse and Abélard : Héloïse, a young girl of 16, and her teacher, the scholar Pierre Abélard, fell in love. However, Héloïse’s uncle refused the union. The two lovers eloped and married, but Heloise’s uncle had them prosecuted to castrate Abelard. After this tragedy, the lovers separated and both entered holy orders, and Héloïse took the veil at the Abbaye Notre-Dame d’Argenteuil.
This very prosperous convent attracted the attention of Abbot Suger of Saint-Denis, who drove out the nuns and turned it into a priory for men. During the French Revolution, the abbey was sold for use as a stone quarry, and the last traces of it disappeared until 1989, when archaeological excavations revealed the remains, which can now be seen by the public and are located right next to a charming garden.
The site is also home to L’Atelier, an exhibition and cultural activity space run by the town, housed in a building on a former industrial site. Throughout the year, you can discover free exhibitions here. Until 20 July 2025, the ” Impressions urbaines #2 ” exhibition features works by 21 international street artists, some of whom have created frescoes in Argenteuil.
Address: 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. During the period when the Holy Tunic is on display, open Tuesday through Sunday, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Rates: free admission.
Street art in the city: an open-air museum
Argenteuil is a town that has embraced urban art with originality. A veritable course of murals has developed over the years, showcasing local and international artists such as C215, Hopare, Jérôme Mesnager and Nexer.
Today, a number of large-format frescoes adorn the city’s walls: portraits, surrealist scenes, plays on colour… Street art here is varied and perfectly integrated into the urban space.
Find the location of all the works on this online map
Attend a concert at La Cave
To round off your trip to Argenteuil, spend an evening atLa Cave, an iconic concert venue and a real cultural hotspot in the Val-d’Oise. This intimate venue, with its warm ambience, presents artists from all horizons: jazz, rock, French chanson, world music, electro, stand-up… with emerging artists as well as headliners at prices that are unbeatable in the Paris region: €15 for adults, €12 for under-26s and €5 for children.
The venue has two rooms: a former 13th-century vaulted cellar transformed into an intimate performance space, and a more modern 145-seat venue.
For musicians, La Cave also has studios and a support programme (coaching, advice, masterclasses) to help artists develop their projects.
Address: 107 rue Paul Vaillant-Couturier
Programming: consult on the official website lacave.argenteuil.fr
Where to eat? A few good addresses in Argenteuil
Between two visits, Argenteuil has plenty of restaurants for you to take a culinary break :
- La Table de Mona : for a lunch full of flavour with seasonal cuisine, fresh, home-made produce.
- Gourmet’s café : a family formula with a carefully crafted menu.
- La Maison Héloïse : a patisserie with many choices including 2 original creations in the image of Sainte-Tunique.
- Picolo : a wine and delicatessen shop offering a selection of sandwiches as well as a bistro formula.
- Au bout du bar : somewhere between a brasserie and a chic bistro for traditional cuisine in a friendly, trendy setting.
Interactive map
Find all the addresses mentioned in this article on this interactive map.
Tip : use the menu on the right to filter results according to your interests.
So when are you going to Argenteuil?
Article produced in collaboration with the city of Argenteuil
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