Giverny, located about 45 miles northwest of Paris, is a quaint French village, best known as the home of Impressionist painter, Claude Monet.
Monet’s simple cottage and elaborate gardens, restored to look much as they did during Monet’s lifetime, are open to visitors and offer a glimpse at the inspiration for some of the world’s most beautiful paintings.
Monet's Cottage and Garden
The cottage contains many of Monet’s original furnishings, including the bright yellow dinnerware he designed himself. The glorious plantings feature heirloom roses, hanging lavender wisteria, and of course, water lilies. In the garden’s heyday, Monet employed seven gardeners to maintain the garden’s “natural” look.
Visting Monet's Cottage
Monet's Cottage and Garden are open from April to October on Tuesdays through Sundays. Hours are 10am to 6pm and admission is 5.50 Euros for adults, 3 Euros for seniors and students, and free for visitors under 7. Ample parking is available and the site offers a small cafe and a gift shop.
Other Attractions in Giverny
Giverny’s secluded beauty also drew dozens of other artists in the late 19th century, such as American painters, John Singer Sargent and Theodore Wendel. Examples of the work they created in Giverny can be seen at the town’s Musee d’Art American.
Getting to Giverny
Visitors from Paris can take a scenic drive along the Seine River from the capital city to Giverny. Alternately, one can take the train from Paris' St. Lazarre station to the city of Vernon, about 4 km. from Monet's Garden. A number of bus tours are offered and usually combine a stop at Giverny with a stop at the WWII beaches of Normandy.
Contact Information
Monet's Cottage and Gardens; 84, rue Claude Monet; Giverny; tel: 02 32 51 28 21
Musee d'Art Americain; 99, rue Claude Monet; Giverny; tel: 02 51 94 65
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