On the right bank of the Seine in Northern France lies the village of Giverny. Best known as the prior home of Claude Monet, this village draws in people from all over the world to visit Monet’s gardens in Giverny. The gorgeous small-village and beautiful natural setting was a huge draw for Impressionists back in the day, and continues to draw visitors to its grounds today. On a day trip to Giverny, you will soon discover the incredible beauty that inspired Monet for decades as he created his stunning works of art!
Claude Monet: Giverny History
Claude Monet, a founder of the French Impressionist school, lived in Giverny for 43 years. He moved here in 1883 and lived in this now-famous pink house until he died in 1926. Although he rented this house and property for the first few years, in 1890 he finally had enough money to buy the house and land and started creating the gardens of his dreams.
Many of his most famous paintings were set in the Giverny gardens, including the Water Lily paintings in the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Water Lily and Japanese bridge series that he painted in different seasons and lighting. If you have time while in Paris before visiting Giverny, be sure to stop by the Musée de l’Orangerie and the Musée d’Orsay to see these paintings as well as others such as his Le jardin de l’artiste à Giverny.
While Giverny has always been a draw for artists and the public, Monet’s gardens in Giverny only became a museum and open to the public in 1980 (following much restoration work on the house and gardens). This place is now a popular attraction for over half a million people every year, especially during the summer months when the flowers are all blooming!
Exploring the Giverny Gardens
While people tend to think of Monet’s Garden as one entity, the garden at Giverny is actually split into two parts—a flower garden called Clos Normond, which is near the front of the house, and a Japanese water garden nearby.
Both gardens are gorgeous but have completely distinct atmospheres from one another. You will want to visit both during your time in Giverny, and they are easily connected now by an underground tunnel…so it is simple to walk between the two gardens, unlike in Monet’s day when you had to hop over the railway!
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Clos Normond Garden
The garden called Clos Normond is the one you will see immediately upon entrance, as it consists of the land closest to the house. This garden contains diverse flowerbeds with some plants that are familiar and many that are strange but intriguing and beautiful.
The colors and perspectives throughout the garden clearly show that this is a place Monet loved—it’s like an impressionist painting come to life! You will see flowers of different heights, ornamental trees, and climbing roses. Here, simple flowers and rare and stunning blooms combine to create a beautiful real-life painting. The variety is truly amazing, and thankfully there is a complete list of flowers planted so if you see one you love you can figure out its name!
This is not an organized garden, but instead one that celebrates the freedom of nature. Flowers are grouped somewhat by colors but grow freely with few restraints. It is easy to see why Monet loved creating this garden and spent so much time painting it during his years in Giverny!
Japanese Water Lily Garden
The Water Lily Garden was not originally part of the land Monet moved to in 1883, but he acquired this property ten years later. He dug a small pond to begin with and later on expanded the pond to its current size.
This is the garden from one of his most well-known painting series with the Japanese bridge and water lilies in all seasons. You’ll find this iconic Japanese bridge and several smaller matching bridges as you wander throughout the water lily pond. Claude Monet’s water lilies truly became an icon in the painting world, and it is lovely to see in person the place that captivated Monet for over 20 years of his painting career!
Besides the water lilies in the pond, there are plenty of beautiful plants to see here including weeping willows, bamboo, wisteria, and other flowers. When you are in this garden, you will feel like you are enveloped in a different world from the French countryside just outside the borders of this property.
Inside the Monet House, Giverny
While exploring the gardens in Giverny, you will definitely want to pop into the beautifully restored home that Monet lived in for 43 years. This house is an iconic pink and green combination that blends seamlessly with the Clos Normond Garden just outside the front door.
Inside the house, you will see many objects and works of art that actually belonged to Monet. From portraits of the artist, to prints of his works, to furniture and household items that belonged to him, you will get a glimpse into the life of this famous Impressionist painter. Several of his most famous works were painted here in his studio, so you really are following in his footsteps when you step inside his house!
Best Time to Visit Monet’s Garden
Monet’s house and gardens are open seven months each year, usually from late March through the early part of November. You will need to purchase tickets to enter when the season opens to avoid disappointment and being turned away upon arrival.
The best time of year to visit is somewhat subjective and depends on your personal preferences, but many people enjoy the summer months here when the flowers are all in bloom. My personal preference is visiting in early spring when the flowers have just started blooming…but there are still not quite as many people visiting as there are during the summer months.
Of course, if you have a favorite painting of Monet’s from a specific season at Giverny, you may wish to visit during that time if the house is open! The gardens truly are beautiful year-round, which is probably why they captivated Monet and other Impressionists so thoroughly.
How to Visit Giverny
If you’re wondering “how far is Giverny from Paris?” then you’ll be pleased to learn that it is easy to take a Giverny day trip from the capital city. There are several ways to get to Giverny from Paris, so all you need to do is choose the option that works best for you!
Take the Train from Paris to Giverny
Taking the train to Giverny is a super simple process. All you have to do is book your tickets on Trainline. In the “From” section, put in your closest Paris rail station, and in the “To” section put in “Vernon—Giverny.”
One-way on the Train from Paris to Giverny will take around 45 minutes to an hour, so this makes it easy to take a day trip here. Be aware, however, that at the Vernon—Giverny station you will need to take a taxi or a bus shuttle to get to Monet’s garden (unless you want to walk an hour through the French countryside).
Interestingly, Monet first saw Giverny from the window of a train—and it was love at first sight! A train ride is what led him to move to Giverny for 43 years, so taking a train may be the most authentic way to explore Giverny 😉
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Take a Guided Tour from Paris to Giverny
If you wish to explore Giverny with the help of a guided tour, there are plenty of options to choose from. Most tours that go just to Giverny are half-day tours, so they drive you to and from Giverny and offer a guide to help you make the most of exploring Monet’s garden (and sometimes the nearby Impressionism museum as well).
You can choose your Giverny tour depending on what matters most to you, from tour size, to tour stops, to length of the trip. There are coach/bus half-day tours as well as minibus half-day tours that go just to Giverny and back to Paris. However, if you wish to extend your Giverny day trip, there are also options to add on other locations such as Versailles. This turns your day trip into a full-day excursion (9.5 hours).
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Drive a Car from Paris to Giverny
Driving a car to Giverny is the most flexible option, particularly if you want to explore the surrounding areas or if you are continuing on to a different city later that day. This also allows you to spend as much time puttering around the gardens as you wish!
If you’re driving to Giverny, I recommend getting directions in Google Maps to make the process easier. Driving from Paris to Giverny usually takes between 1-1.5 hours.
Throughout my time in Europe, I’ve found Enterprise to be a reliable company to rent cars from. They have plenty of locations to choose from in Paris, so you can pick up your car from the airport or the city center—whatever is most convenient for you. I like to pick up my rental car as I am leaving the city so I don’t have to worry about driving around the city center or finding somewhere to park the car while staying in Paris.
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