Paris offers many wonderful daytrips, but if you’re a fan of French art and the impressionism movement then a daytrip out to explore Claude Monet’s house and gardens our in Giverny France is bound to excite you. Many of Monet’s famous impressionist painting drew inspirations from these gardens, and walking around the estate you can get a sense of what Monet’s life and mindset were at the time these came to life. There is also Monet’s house, nothing as impressive as the surrounding chateaus but it’s filled with art and charm.
Wikitravel writes :
Monet moved to Giverny in 1883 with his family, including his second wife and 8 children, living and painting here until his death in 1926. The village surroundings and the gardens of his house formed a great part of the inspiration and subject matter for his paintings. It was after the move to Giverny that Monet began his famous Séries of paintings, repeatedly rendering haystacks, cathedrals and waterlilies from his garden pond in his own unique Impressionist style.
Monet’s House (Fondation Claude Monet) – the house is quietly eccentric and highly interesting in an Orient-influenced style, and includes Monet’s collection of Japanese prints. There are no original Monet paintings on the site – the real drawcard, is the gardens around the house – the water garden with the Japanese bridge, weeping willows and waterlilies is now somewhat iconic. Monet’s house has the obligatory gift-store attached, designed to help you part with your money in exchange for all manner of things Impressionist.
Claude Monet Gardens
Claude Monet’s House
Location :
A wonderful daytrip out of Paris, try and avoid the weekends if you can, I visited during the spring but I understand that autumn should also be very nice. You might also want to combine this with a visit to Vernon.