This long, narrow island in the Seine between Rueil-Malmaison and Chatou was a favourite weekend escape for Parisians in the late 19th century, and the Impressionists made it famous. Renoir, Monet, and their circle came here to paint the light on the water, the boaters, and the guinguettes (riverside dance halls) that lined the banks.
The centrepiece is the Maison Fournaise, the restaurant and boat-rental establishment where Renoir painted his masterpiece. It has been restored and now operates as both a small museum (with reproductions and period photographs) and a restaurant. The rest of the island is a public park — pleasant for a stroll along the river, with interpretation panels marking the spots where specific paintings were composed. The island is technically in Chatou, just across the bridge from Rueil-Malmaison, and easily reached on foot or by the RER A (Chatou-Croissy station).