Monet’s Garden, Giverny, France holds the main inspiration of one the greatest paintings of the 19th century: a calm pond of water lilies. Actually, anybody with the slightest knowledge of the paintings of Claude Monet will feel familiar with this garden located in the department of Normandy in France. Monet’s garden is a spot that enthusiasts of arts or gardens can’t miss. If you happen to visit France soon, don’t forget to include this marvelous place in your itinerary or you’ll regret it.
Activity/Place Highlights
The Garden’s beautiful views
You can find zones that beautifully mix light and shadow. And as the green foliage and colorful flowers reflect in the waters, their images are briefly changed by the fluctuating light of the varying Normandy climate.
Several little paths cross the gardens, as it tenderly slopes down to the lily pond, that is shockingly small but with an exceptional atmosphere. Besides, a path edges their border, offering different, breathtaking views and light changes as you stroll along it. Some of these views are totally open, while others are interrupted by weeping willows.
Monet’s Home
Once you are in the garden, do not miss the opportunity of wandering around Monet’s home. Certainly, this is one of the highlights of the garden.
Monet’s home at Giverny is spacious and with a rustic style. Its guests can stroll around and look out the windows at the views that were the main source of inspiration for this great painter. He watched how the colors slowly but steadily changed with the rhythm of each season. Every morning without fail, he woke up to appreciate his garden from his window.
The Grande Allée
Out of all the paths in Monet’s garden, the Grande Allée is the largest. This path specifically leads from the house to the Japanese bridge. The Grande Allée is widely known for being portrayed by Monet on many occasions. Currently, a road separates these gardens, but a tunnel connects some parts.
When to go
In winter, Monet’s Garden doesn’t have much to see, since all the trees lose their leafs and flowers don’t bloom. For this reason, the garden is closed from November to March. Other than that, the garden offers breathtaking views any time of the year. However, the best moment to visit is between July and August when the water lilies blossom.
Arrive at the garden very early if possible. During the day, it tends to be very crowded. Besides, from April to November, they don’t open to the general public on Mondays. On these days, a selected group of painters go from 9:30 a.m to 6 p.m.
How to get there
Monet’s Garden is specifically 65 km away from north-west of Paris and off the A13 motorway. The closest English ports are Le Havre and Dieppe. You can easily get there by getting on a train from Paris to Vernon, and then taking a 15-minute bus from Vernon to Giverny.
Where to stay
Vernon is a pretty good choice for accommodation: it is a charming town with good restaurants. This town is 5 km near Giverny.
History
Claude Monet found this garden for the first time through the window of a train while he was traveling. Then the rest is history. Monet moved there in 1883, and started to decorate his firsts gardens. Something that later on he considered as one of his greatest accomplishments.
Since an early moment in his career, Monet preferred working outside rather than in the studio. He thought that he could catch the moment with his paintings. However, that meant that he needed to work quickly.
Eventually, this would be the foundation of the “impressionist” technique. This technique does not create a detailed depiction of an scenary, but an impression of the object.
While Monet was living at Giverny, many contemporary artists with high recognition such as Renoir, Matisse, Cézanne, and Pissarro visited the garden. Now it’s so amazing to think all that talent gathered in the same place.
In 1926, Claude Monet passed away at 86 years old.
Websites
For more information about where to stay, transportation and flowering times check giverny.org
If you loved this article or found it useful, don’t forget to share it with your adventurous and travel-hacking friends! If you want more posts like this, follow us on Youtube, Instagram, Pinterest, Twitter or Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter!