Many of these originated in Upper Normandy, France; the birthplace of French Impressionism.
Claude Monet, the World’s most favourite artist, made a small village in Normandy, France his home. He also made Giverny famous – very famous, it is the second most visited attraction in Normandy.
In fact Normandy was greatly favoured by a number of French impressionist artists, who raved about the quality of light throughout the year. And it is for this reason most of us know Normandy well, before we even travel there – we have already seen their paintings.
Hundreds of thousands of people visit Claude Monet’s Giverny house and gardens in Normandy each year and it really is an amazing destination for art lovers.
On our guide you can find information about planning a first time visit to Giverny and Normandy, we hope to help you see some of the paintings that were painted here and enjoy a really special trip.
Where is Giverny
The village of Giverny is just north of the River Seine, under 80 km (50 miles) north-west of Paris and about 60 km from the Normandy city of Rouen.
It is actually situated on a tributary of the River Seine, the River Epte, and it was on a ‘bras communal’ (communal arm) of the River Epte that Monet created his famous ponds.
Giverny lies just inside the region of Normandy on the border with the Île-de-France region. Administratively, it is in the Department of Eure in the Haute-Normandie region.
Claude Monet’s House & Garden, Giverny
“My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.” Claude Monet.
For almost 43 years, from 1883 to 1926, Claude Monet lived in Giverny, Normandy. There he combined his passion for colour, flowers and gardening and created one of the now most famous and well known historical gardens in World. A garden that most people know having seen reproductions of his wonderful paintings.
Anyone visiting Paris or north western France should not pass on even the slightest possibility to visit Claude Monet’s house and gardens in Giverny. It really is very easy to get to too.
A Brief History
“These would-be artists call themselves revolutionaries, “Impressionists”. They take a piece of canvas, colour and brush, dab a few patches of paint on it at random, and sign the whole thing with their name. It is a delusion of the same kind as if the inmates of Bedlam picked up stones from the wayside and imagined they had found diamonds.” Anonymous 1876
Monet died on 5 December 1926, leaving the property and art housed therein to his only surviving son Michel Monet. Michel was not, however, interested in the family residence, and so Blanche Monet Hoschedé, Alice’s daughter and widow of Monet’s elder son Jean, took care of the house and garden. When Blanche died in 1947, the house and gardens were all but abandoned.
Michel Monet died in 1966, leaving the property and collections to the Académie des Beaux Arts. Funds did not allow for any much needed restoration. The roof was repaired so as to protect the ‘Japanese Estampes’, and the remaining art was removed to the Musée Marmottan in Paris.
In 1977 the Académie des Beaux Arts handed over the restoration of Monet’s house and garden in Giverny to Gérald Van der Kemp, famed for his restoration at the Château de Versailles. After three years of extensive renovations to both the garden and the house and the founding of the Fondation Claude Monet, the property was opened to the public on 1st of June.
Today it welcomes over 400 000 visitors a year, second only in Normandy to Mont Saint Michel.
Entry Fees
Adults and seniors: 11 euros. Children over 7 and students: 6.50 euros. Disabled: 5.50 euros. Children up to 7 years old: free of charge. You can book Giverny tickets online.
Sometimes at certain points of the year the gardens are open to the public (free of charge) as part of the Europe-wide Nuits des Musées initiative.
Opening Times
Monet’s house and garden is open seven days a week from the 1st of April to the 1st of November, from 09h30 am to 18h00, with the last admission at 17.30.
As this is the second most popular attraction in Normandy, after Mont Saint Michel, to avoid queues it is now possible to book entry tickets online.
While you are likely to get tickets at Monet’s house, from about May through to the end of September you may encounter long queues – over an hour; buying tickets in advance allows you to avoid these.
Is it Worth Visiting Giverny?
Is a trip to Giverny worth it? Yes!
Whether you are planning a day trip from Paris, love Monet or want to see more of northern France, you will love exploring this region and be left in awe at the beauty and tranquility of Claude Monet’s House and Garden in Giverny.
This region is known as Ile de France and as well as Monet inspired tourist attractions there are lots of other places to see too.
Best Time to Go
Claude Monet’s garden is a delight to visit throughout the period it is open to the public (April to November). In May, one of these delights is the irises – iris germanica. Visit the gardens at dusk, the paths lined with iridescent irises in full bloom will remind you of ‘The Artist’s Garden at Giverny‘.
What you will find quite striking on this particular canvas, painted in 1900, are the sinewy tree trunks that almost mimic the undulations you see in the way in which Monet painted the flow of the irises’ long blade-like leaves. And the paths lined with irises are something you can still see in the garden today when these flowers are in bloom. The irises are kept in check a bit more today than they appear to have been in Monet’s time.
Even though Giverny and Monet’s garden is likely to be full of tourists at any time of the year you can still find little corners where it was so peaceful, and take in the setting for what has become one of Monet's most popular paintings.
How to Get to Giverny
Giverny is very easy to get to, from anywhere in Normandy, and just as easy from Paris. If you are planning a trip to Paris for a few days or more and want to get out into the country do consider a trip out to Giverny for the day. It will be well worth it. You could hire a car, get on a train or even choose one of a number of bus tours available.
Getting from Paris to Giverny
By Train
You will need to get a train from Paris to Vernon. From Paris’s St Lazare station (in Zone 1, a number of Métro lines go through this station – it is on the north side of the Seine), take a Grande Lignes train that goes from Paris to Rouen and Le Havre. The train will stop at the town of Vernon, which is where you will get off the train. Giverny is just 5 km from Vernon. From Vernon you can get a taxi or a bus to Giverny, or you can walk or hire a bicycle and ride – details below.
There are trains throughout the day, but be sure to get an early train if you intend to return to Paris the same day. The journey lasts between 44 and 48 minutes, and currently costs €25 for a return ticket.
You can search train timetables online, and/or buy your ticket.
By Car
Head out of Paris to the west of the city on the A13, sign-posted for Rouen. For Giverny, there are two exits to choose from. From exit 14 (for Bonnières) go into the town of Bonnières, cross the Seine into the town of Bennecourt, and then follow the signs to Giverny. From exit 16 (for Douains) take the D181 to Vernon, follow signs for Beauvais and Giverny and cross the Seine. Then turn right onto the D5 and follow this to Giverny.
From Mantes-la Jolie the A13 is a péage – a toll road. If you want to avoid this take the exit where instructed and follow the N13 to Bonnières, from here cross the River Seine into Bennecourt, from where you will be able to follow signs to Giverny. Parking at Giverny is free and well sign-posted.
Getting from Rouen to Giverny
By Train
In Rouen you will need to get a TGV service to Vernon from the station, Gare Rive Droite, above the city center on the north side of the River Seine. Getting a journey where you do not have to change trains will take about 42 minutes, and a return journey currently costs about €20.20
By Car
From Rouen, head south for the A13, heading towards Paris. On the A13 take exit 16 (for Douains) and follow the D181 to Vernon, from here follow signs for Beauvais and Giverny and cross the River Seine. Just after the bridge turn right onto the D5 and follow this road to Giverny. Parking at Giverny is free and well sign-posted.
Getting from Vernon to Giverny
Giverny is just 5 km from Vernon. If you arrive by train, you can either get a taxi, catch a bus, hire a bicycle or walk to Giverny.
There is a taxi rank at the station, so you will be able to get a taxi there. The fare from Vernon to Giverny is less than €15.There is a shuttle service between Vernon and Giverny from the beginning of April to the end of October. The bus stops at the train station in Vernon, and costs about €4 return.
If it is a wonderful sunny day, and you are fit, an alternative to a taxi or a bus trip is to walk or cycle along a foot/cycle path that was once a train track. Bicycles can be hired from the cafés at the station. To walk or cycle to Giverny, leave the station and follow Albufera street towards the river Seine.
Cross the bridge and at the roundabout, ignore the signs for Giverny (intended for vehicles), go straight over and take the first street on your right, and pass the first street on your left. A large pathway for cyclists and walkers begins a few metres along to your right. The path is almost flat as it follows the route of an old railway line. It takes about 2 hours to take a leisurely walk.
How Much Time Should You Spend in Giverny?
We recommend planning for at least one day in Giverny.
For the average tourist 2-3 hours is enough time to enjoy a relaxed visit seeing Monet’s house, gardens, and the famous water lily pond. Be sure to also walk over to the Japanese Bridge.
The town of Giverny is very small, you might want to visit the local museum, shops and get some food at a local cafe. You could also add to your itinerary the church where Monet is buried. Add a few more hours for this.
Where to Stay
Are you still looking for a hotel in Giverny? The leading international website Booking.com allows you to search thousands of hotels in Giverny, Paris, Rouen, Vernon and nearby destinations for you to choose from. You can find a great choice of hotels from 1 to 5 star. Making a reservation is easy and safe, as is changing your reservation should you need to.
If you are looking for B&B or self-catering accommodation while you tour Giverny and other impressionist sites in Upper Normandy, then look no further than Basse Copette.
Basse Copette is a small rural hamlet set in the forest of Eu, with only six residences that overlook the Bresle Valley. One of these an old farmhouse and barn has been recently and lovingly restored and on offer is B&B and self catering accommodation. The hamlet’s location makes it ideally situated for your impressionist tour of Normandy, and even Paris is within easy reach for a great day out – so you can also visit the impressionist collections in the Musée d’Orsay, the Musée Marmottan Monet and the Musée de l’Orangerie.
Places to Visit Near Giverny
Giverny is undoubtedly one of the highlights of the region, but there is also so much more to Upper Normandy including the Seine River, miles of white chalky cliffs along the coast, picturesque cities and towns, rolling countryside and farmlands, all of which were the impressionists ‘open-air studio’.
Tours
Some local people and travel companies offer unique, guided tours of Monet’s Normandy for individuals and groups, taking in such well known sites as Giverny, Rouen and Etretat, but some of the other lesser known sites in Normandy that also feature in French Impressionist art. There is, just for example, the cliff-top church at Varengeville and Camille Pissarro’s house in Eragny-sur-Epte.
You will see Monet’s Normandy – where he and his contemporaries lived and painted – the Normandy some only get to see in paintings and photographs.
Some tours have been running for years; and perfect for anyone pursuing a passion for impressionist art. Some trips last five-days and are inclusive packages that allow you to sit back and enjoy the very best of Normandy and experience for yourself why the Impressionists fell in love with this area over a hundred years ago.
Plan a Monet Inspired Trip to Giverny
Whether you have a passion for art, or are going to be in Paris and looking for a great day trip, you will be struck by the tranquility in the Giverny gardens.
