Art trip advice

I've been to most of those museums, though Rouen was part of a different trip, and I think it looks good. I travel a lot more slowly, but it seems doable if you don't wander off course too much.

I haven't been to Le Havre, so no help on that point.

Acraven, you are the best! You've helped me a lot the last couple of weeks as I'm trying to figure out these precious six days. Thank you so much!!

”August 1st: Musée des Beaux-Arts de Rouen and the metalworks museum, or ceramics”

I liked the first one a lot -partly because it wasn’t crowded, so I could really enjoy the beautiful paintings. The metalwork, Musée Le Secq des Tournelles, was fascinating! I spent a lot of time there. The ceramics museum was a disappointment for my expectations; you may feel differently.

The evening illumination show in Rouen is also a great artistic event!

I don't know how you can do it. I was just in Brussels, and in 3 full days i couldn't see all the museums I wanted. I don't think a day trip to Lille is super practical, and I've never spent less than 6 hours at a time in the Louvre, and that's in multiple visits. The Musee Beau Arts in Rouen is fantastic. I can't see how you could see that and the metalworking museum in one day without literally running through them. And the metalwork on the buildings of Rouen is possibly even better than what's in the museum.

If you stay the night in Rouen, get up early, walk the park at the Hotel de Ville, then through the antique district, and you'll come out right by the Beau Arts.

I’m curious; why did you decided not to spend these same 6 nights in The Netherlands and Belgium, like you were planning to do just 2 weeks ago?

https://community.ricksteves.com/travel-forum/netherlands/is-chatgpt-correct

That itinerary looked great and was also very art focused with some great museums. The cities you planned to visit in that NL-BE itinerary are located much closer together compared to this one, giving you a good use of your 6 days.
This new itinerary includes some very long train rides. Compared to your earlier itinerary you will now spend much more time on trains and less time in museums. If that’s what you want then that’s fine, but as you say yourself these 6 days are precious, so it’s a bit confusing you want to spend a relatively large part of them on trains.

I've not been to that museum in Le Havre, but Le Havre itself was devastated during the war and it's not an attractive city. I do remember a brutalist church with yellow and green stained glass. Striking but very ugly. Unless you only wanted to see that museum specifically, and you must have your reasons for bringing it up here, I would not spend my time there.

Lavandula

Hi all,
Thanks much for the replies and advice. Dutch traveler, truth is I think my wife would rather go to France, for whatever reason, which is why I looked at France. If we compromised, and only did Lille in France, where are the essential art places that you think would be reasonable to travel? We've been to Brussels, so don't include that. We could either start or end in Lille. Appreciate your time and your rational take on this!

IggyStooge, When I saw your Netherlands trip, I decided that I want to do that, with the added input of the others, in August to get out of the Mediterranean heat where I live. So even if you are going to France, this French resident will be heading to the Netherlands! The document in my computer is named: Iggy's Netherland trip. Thanks!

If you are interested Rubens, while you are in Antwerp, I would highly recommend the Rubens' altarpiece masterpieces at the Our Lady Cathedral in Anbtwerp.

Ha! That's funny Elizabeth, I may still do that. Eventually we will decide. Wish I had two weeks to do it all!

I quite like the Beaux-Arts museum in Le Havre and really like the city. It's so different and has an interesting feel to it. The cathedral too is so worth a stop because it's nothing like anything I've ever seen before.