
Giverny
Everyone has heard of Giverny ! The world-famous village in the Eure region of Normandy, less than an hour from Paris, is an absolute must to visit !
Giverny, THE place to see in Normandy !
Everyone has heard of Giverny ! The world-famous village in the Eure region of Normandy, less than an hour from Paris, is an absolute must to visit !
Situated on the right bank of the Seine, Giverny is famous around the world thanks to the paintings of Claude Monet who lived there for over 40 years. Just like Monet back in the day, you simply have to stop and gaze at the water garden with its Japanese bridge and water lilies which provided inspiration for two of the artist’s best-known paintings. The presence of the painter at Giverny attracted many other artists of different nationalities who also contributed towards making the place into a particularly emblematic site. The Musée des Impressionnismes, which highlights the heyday of the Impressionist movement, also helped to put Giverny on the map as a major international tourist attraction.
Whether you are with a partner, family or friends, it is impossible not to stop at his village of timeless charm and in comparable cultural heritage !
Start discovering Giverny by visiting the village
The village has retained all the charm, character and authenticity from the time of the Impressionists. Wisteria and Virginia creeper adorn colourful houses in the flower-bedecked streets and alleyways, along with art galleries, artists’ studios and craft workshops. Don’t forget to stop at the former Hôtel Baudy, a place steeped in history once frequented by numerous artists like Cézanne, Renoir, Sisley, Rodin and Mary Cassatt and now a restaurant and museum where time has stood still !
La maison de Claude Monet (Claude Monet’s house)

The artist lived here with his family for over forty years. The house has a distinctive atmosphere. Most notably, it features Monet’s studio-sitting room and his incredible collection of Japanese prints. The gardens are wonderful works of art and are in two parts. The first is the flower garden in front of the house known as Le Clos Normand, and the other is the Japanese-inspired water garden featuring oriental plants, weeping willows and around twenty different plants, including the famous water lilies and the well-known Japanese bridge covered in wisteria - of course !
Le Musée des Impressionnismes (Museum of Impressionism)
The museum exhibits works by artists who left their mark on late 19th-early 20th century France : Monet, Matisse, Bonnard, Signac, Gauguin, Maurice Denis, Manet and many others.
My favourite time of year to visit the gardens is June, when all the roses are in bloom ! There are roses of every shape and size : rose trees, shrub roses, roses clipped into parasols and 2.5m high pyramids and others just rambling freely !
Don’t hesitate, go to Giverny in Normandy !
Under an hour from Paris (45 minutes from Gare St Lazare), 45 minutes from Evreux, 1 hour from Rouen
The Musée des Impressionnismes museum and Claude Monet House and Gardens are open from March to November.
Discover the Eure region by visiting Biotropica or Pont-Audemer on the other side of the region."