On an hour and a half driving distance from the grandiose capital of France, there lies a small village of Giverny, known as a home of a famous French painter Claude Monet. This founder of Impressionism, born in Paris, “discovered” this small village while driving the train and instantly fell in love with it and decided to move there, so we are certain that you will love it too!
Giverny is located in northern France, in the old province of Normandy, and it sits on the place where the river Epte meets the Seine. From the historical part it hasn’t been of some great importance although there have been some discoveries which indicate that there had been settlers in Giverny since the Neolithic. Giverny has always remained a small rural setting with the population of around 500 people, but it has had a tourism boom since the restoration of Monet’s house in 1980 which is the main attraction in the entire village.
Exploring the house, which is the second most visited tourist site in Normandy, you will come across rooms bursting with colours, such as the Monet’s light-filled studio where you will be able to see his famous Water Lilly painting, the yellow dining room or in the blue tiled kitchen. Feeling the passion for gardening and being in love with colours, he worked his entire life on his outstandingly beautiful garden. He was told to be its architect even when he already had seven gardeners taking care of it. The beauty and importance of well organised and properly shaped garden can be seen in Monet’s painting which he did right there in his own garden. It is like a fairytale.
Besides Monet’s House and marvellous garden, you could as well visit his grave at the local cemetery or even Musée des Impressionnismes containing paintings reflecting Monet’s influence. Delighted by the sight of Giverny? You could also visit a village of Vernon where Monet lived before coming to Giverny or enjoy extraordinary garden of the Versailles castle.