Are you considering a day trip to Claude Monet’s House and Gardens in Giverny? I wholeheartedly recommend it, especially during the autumn off-peak season.
Giverny, a small village in the Normandy region of northern France, is an absolute gem. I especially loved visiting it with the kids in September. The autumn season brings a spectacular display of vibrant and warm-coloured foliage to Giverny’s landscapes. The gardens and the surrounding countryside come alive with shades of red, orange, and yellow, providing a stunning backdrop for your visit.
Compared to the summer months when Giverny can be very crowded, autumn tends to be less busy. You can enjoy a more peaceful experience, immersing yourself fully in the gardens and appreciating Monet’s world without distractions.
I’ve always been drawn to Claude Monet’s works, particularly those of nature and more abstract paintings that seem to have no beginning and no end. Since moving to Paris, I’ve visited Musée Marmottan-Monet, Musée d’Orsay and Musée de l’Orangerie, where Monet’s works are displayed. Whether you’re an art or nature lover or simply seeking an inspiring day trip, I guarantee you’ll enjoy visiting Giverny and Monet’s House.
It’s easy to visit Giverny on a day trip from Paris, and it’s a beautiful place to visit with kids.
Visit the Claude Monet House
A visit to the Claude Monet House is a journey into the world of the renowned Impressionist artist. Monet, often regarded as the father of Impressionism, played a pivotal role in this art movement, marked by its emphasis on capturing the transient qualities of light, colour, and atmosphere in nature. His famous painting “Impression, Sunrise” gave the movement its name and exemplified its departure from traditional artistic norms.
In 1883, Claude Monet chose to move to Giverny, a small village in the Normandy region of France. He was drawn to Giverny primarily because of its natural beauty and tranquil countryside, but his passion for gardening truly shaped his decision. He purchased a house with a substantial piece of land and transformed the property into a work of art.
The house you see now looks as it did in Monet’s times, with the sitting room, his bedroom, the yellow dining room with its surprising collection of Japanese woodblocks and the kitchen decorated with blue tiles.
Visit Claude Monet’s Gardens
Visiting Claude Monet’s Gardens in Giverny is like stepping into one of his iconic water lily paintings.
Monet carefully designed and cultivated the gardens, which included the Clos Normand flower garden and the famous water garden with its iconic Japanese bridge. These gardens served as a source of inspiration and a living canvas for his artistic experimentation.
Monet’s gardens at Giverny became some of his most iconic subjects. He painted them repeatedly, capturing their beauty in various seasons, lighting conditions, and moods.
Tickets and opening times
The cost of visiting Claude Monet’s House and Gardens is as follows:
- €12 for adults
- €7.50 for children aged seven and older
- Free admission for children under seven years old
You can buy tickets online in advance on Foundation Monet’s website. The tickets are valid for the date and time slot you have selected.
Claude Monet’s House and Gardens are open to visitors daily, including public holidays, from 9:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., with the last admission at 5:30 pm. The grounds are only open from 1 April to 1 November.
Other things to do in Giverny
After exploring Claude Monet’s House and Gardens, you can spend a few hours exploring the pretty village of Giverny, with these destinations being particularly interesting:
- Church of Sainte-Radegonde – this is an elegant Romanesque church dating back to the 11th century. Located a short walk from Monet’s house, this church serves as the final resting place not only for Claude Monet and his family but also for several Royal Air Force crew members who tragically lost their lives during World War II when their plane crashed nearby.
- Museum of Impressionism – this museum near Monet’s house showcases a diverse collection of Impressionist paintings and hosts rotating exhibitions that provide insight into the broader Impressionist movement, allowing you to deepen your understanding of Monet’s art.
Getting to Giverny from Paris
Giverny is an easy day trip from Paris. Here’s how to get there:
By Train:
If you want to travel to Giverny from Paris by train, head to the Paris Gare Saint-Lazare station and board the train to Vernon, near Giverny. Trains run regularly, and the journey takes approximately 45 minutes.
You can purchase train tickets online in advance by using train ticketing platforms such as Trainline, Omio or booking directly with SNCF.
From Vernon, you can take a taxi or a shuttle bus to Giverny, which is just a 15-minute ride away, followed by a 10-minute walk to the entrance of Monet’s House.
By Car:
You can use Rentalcars or Discover Cars to compare prices of rental cars from your location to Giverny. Driving from Paris to Giverny will take you approximately 45 – 50 minutes.
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