Monet's Garden & Giverny Walking Tour
Claude Monet is the founder of French impressionism and a revered icon among generations of artists and art-lovers. We’ll have the opportunity to explore his homestead and local village, rendered impossibly beautiful in many of his famous paintings.
We’ll begin the day in Paris at our office located near the Eiffel Tower. We’ve organized a private transport for the 45 minute journey to the quaint town of Vernon. Aboard the bus, your guide will take the opportunity to familiarize you with the principles of impressionism and give you some background on Claude Monet, highlighting how he was perceived by other artists of his era. This ride winds through the Normandy countryside, offering you views of the river Seine as it cuts through farm fields and continues north.
We’ll stop in Vernon, just a few minutes from Monet's home, in order to take advantage of the local open-air market. France privileges fresh produce, and there’s no better way to experience it than by interacting with the vendors who sell it! We’ll give everyone some time (and helpful hints) to visit the market to collect items for a picnic lunch near the river. This is a great opportunity to try Normandy cider as well as a host of delicious, seasonal products! With our picnics in hand, we’ll hop back on the bus for a short ride across the river towards the Old Windmill, which was the source of several Monet works. Here, we’ll stop for lunch and have the opportunity to learn more about the town and Monet’s inspiration for living here.
Following lunch, we’ll use the bus one more time to make the transfer to Giverny, the small village where Claude Monet called home. Our guide will facilitate your skip-the-line access into the grounds where you can then enjoy the famous Japanese bridge, visit his home, and pose for pictures among rows of vibrant flowers. Afterwards, enjoy a stroll through various artists’ ateliers, take the opportunity to see where Claude Monet is buried, or, should you choose, relax with a drink at the Hotel Baudy, a café inspired by the growing population of American artists choosing to live and paint near Monet’s homestead. We’ll enjoy a relaxing bus ride back to Paris at days’ end.
We also have a biking tour of Monet’s gardens; should you be travelling with others who prefer to visit this site by bike, know that many parts of your day will overlap, such as the market, lunch, and walking through Monet’s house and gardens. We highly recommend families sign up for both excursions should there be any doubt or hesitation about cycling ability!