Claude Monet’s House and Gardens and the beauty of the French countryside // Day 4 – Giverny, France

Claude Monet’s House and Gardens

Wow, it’s been 5 months since my trip to Europe back in August of 2014! I spent 10 amazing days in Germany and France and published posts only about 3 of them and then…well, then happened life. Yes, life happened and carried me away into a swirl of events, not letting go from its tight grip. School, job, another job, a couple of vacations, my Mom’s visit (yay!), my boyfriend’s demands to stop spending all my time with the laptop and to actually pay attention to people around…and lots and lots of other things, good things mostly, which took all my time and energy and kept me away from writing.

Oh, one day, I promise it to myself out loud here, I will quit doing all the things I don’t enjoy (meaning my current jobs) and will concentrate entirely on what I actually love and what I am passionate about – writing, photography, travelling! Yes, this day will come, maybe because I want it so badly, or because I’ve already seen this day million of times in my day dreams, or because I am one lucky girl, who knows, but it will be here! Ok, I must stop my ramblings and actually get back to the topic of this post, which is the 4th day of the Germany-France road trip, spent in Giverny, France.

It was August 27, Wednesday, when me and my sister checked out from the hotel in Paris and headed to our next destination – Claude Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny.

One hour drive from Paris, Giverny is a beautiful country side, an absolute heaven for artists, photographers and romantics of any kind. This place is both incredibly picturesque and amazingly tranquil. No wonder Claude Monet decided to settle down here and purchased the house and surrounding land for his gardens. He painted most of his best-known works in Giverny.

Being very much living-in-lala-land kind of girls, me and my sister both loved the gardens and the house and everything about Giverny. This place is definitely worth a visit if you:

1) Heard of Claude Monet (pardon my bitter sense of humorJ);

2) Love Claude Monet’s works and impressionist paintings in general (there is the Museum of Impressionism, besides Claude Monet’s house, and multiple art studios nearby);

3) Appreciate quiet places to slow down and walk around, enjoying beautiful nature and daydreaming;

4) Love plants and flowers, gardens and country houses.

Open from April to November. Tickets can be purchased in advance here (it was worth it, as we did not have to wait in line).

Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Peonies in Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens

After the tour of the house and the gardens go explore the village itself. The place is well prepared for tourists with multiple cozy stores selling adorable souvenirs and antiques, little cafes in the shades of abundant greenery, art studios and plant nurseries. You can rent bikes and tour the winding streets of the village or simply walk around and relax.

Giverny, France
Giverny, France

By the way, the myth about French love for baguettes is not a myth – baguettes are everywhere! They are in the bags, on the counters, on the plates; people are either carrying them or buying them or biting them. I wasn’t an exception and ate baguettes and as much cheese as I could!

Cheese, baguette and apple cider
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France
Giverny, France

Only a few minutes drive from Giverny is a little town Vernon, lying on the banks of the Seine River. It has some amazing fairy landscapes, crazy narrow cobblestone roads twisting in most unexpected ways, bewitching old buildings. You can rent bikes or get a bit more adventurous and rent a canoe to enjoy city views from the water. We were short of time and chose walking. 

This old mill on the broken bridge is probably the most photographed place in Vernon. No wonder – the view is absolutely lovely! 

Le Vieux Moulin de Vernon
Le Vieux Moulin de Vernon

Right next to it there is a small park perfect for a lunch picnic. And that’s what we did – ate plums, cheese and baguette, drank apple cider, watched the slow motion flow of the Seine dark waters and felt peaceful. Peaceful – probably the best word to describe Vernon. 

Vernon France
Le Vieux Moulin de Vernon
Vernon France
Vernon France
Vernon France

You can find and read the first post covering Day 1 – Metz (One Day Guide) Here

Thank you for visiting my space!

  • , , , , , , ,

    CONVERSATION

    4 comments:

    1. Wow! How are the people like over there? I know what you mean btw about doing what you love, I'm also in pursuit of it and believe we can all acheive our dreams.

      ReplyDelete
    2. Hector, you should definitely go for it! People in France, the ones we met, were very nice and friendly and super helpful! Once we asked for directions and the guy did not speak any English (and we didn't know a word of French), so he actually walked us for like 10 minutes to the place. Can you imagine? So yeah, the French are cool :)

      ReplyDelete