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Giverny
If you are a fan of Monet, you might want to consider a trip to his home at
Giverny, which was not only his refuge and studio for over forty years. The grounds
of his home in the Normandy countryside also
served to provide the subject matter of many of his most famous paintings
including the Nymphaes (Waterlilies), the Pont Japonais (the Japanese
Bridge) among others.
This quaint, picturesque residence is surrounded by lush, formal gardens,
including Monet’s famous Water Garden, complete with the green Japanese
style bridge (a re-creation as the original bridge had fallen into disrepair
before the garden was restored) . When the garden is in bloom the compound
is spectacular, so try to plan your visit around spring and summer.
Monet’s home is a popular attraction, but the crowds do not seem to
detract from the ambiance of the setting. There is a large gift shop
containing a
variety of Monet-related items. It does a brisk business and is a great
place to wander.
Some areas of the interior of Monet's house are open for touring and should
not be missed, especially the rooms devoted to his collection of Japanese
prints. Most of the rooms at Giverny have been decorated to recreate the
interior colors commonly used in the era when Giverny was Monet's main
residence.
The village of Giverny is approximately midway between Paris and Rouen
(about 75 kilometers from Paris) and is a convenient stop if you are on your
way to Haute Normandy. If you want to make this a daytrip with a
return to Paris, you can take the train from the Gare St-Lazare to
Vernon, the closest stop to Giverny, but you will need to take a bus or taxi
to reach Monet's home).
The countryside around Giverny is beautiful and you might want to consider
renting a car for the trip. Ample parking is available for the residence.
Giverny is open from the beginning of April to the end of October from 9:30
a.m. to 6 p.m. with the last admission at 5:30.
Visit the website of the
Fondation Claude
Monet for more information on visiting or reserving your tickets ahead
of time.
While in Giverny you might want to visit the Musee des
Impressionnismes Giverny, which is located at 99, rue Claude Monet.
See the museum's
website for more details on visiting. (The website can be slow to
resolve, so be prepared for a short wait.)
Next - explore our menu on the right to find other
types of sightseeing in Paris.
Or - If you want to find out about a specific attraction
and know its name, look for it in our
Index of the Best Places To Visit in Paris. If you need information about another travel destination, try
our
Destination Guide Index
or Googling ThereArePlaces.
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