Visiting Monet’s Garden in Giverny | Giverny Travel Guide

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21 Apr

Since my very first day in art history class, I have wanted to visit Monet’s Garden in Giverny. After multiple trips to Paris, I was finally able to get there for my 27th birthday - and boy, was it worth the wait.

Situated in Giverny, a small village in Normandy, Monet’s home is only an hour from central Paris. Best visited during spring and summer when his flowers are in full bloom, Monet’s garden is truly a sight to behold - in fact, he considered it his greatest masterpiece.

Keen to visit? Here’s your ultimate guide to visiting Monet’s Garden in the beautiful village of Giverny.

Who is Claude Monet?

Oscar-Claude Monet, better known as simply Monet (pronounced Mon-ae), was a French painter widely considered the father of the Impressionist art movement. Born in Paris on the 14th of November 1840, he is best known for his lilies which are currently housed in The Musée de l'Orangerie.

Monet moved to Giverny in 1883. He purchased his (now) iconic pink and green home, which was abandoned at the time, and spent the next forty years renovating and remodelling both the house and the garden. Much of the area, including the village where the house is located, was captured in his later work.

The garden has a very obvious Japanese influence. By manipulating the course of the Epte Stream, Monet was able to create a large pond which is where he planted his water lilies. He also built a green Japanese-style bridge - his iconic painting Japanese Footbridge, which he painted in 1899, is one of Monet’s most famous works of art. It currently hangs in Washington’s National Gallery of Art.

How to get to Giverny from Paris

Getting from Giverny to Paris is incredibly easy. Simply go to Gare Saint-Lazare and take the train to Vernon-Giverny. If you’re on a budget, I recommend booking your ticket in advance as this will be cheaper than booking it on the spot - I usually opt for Trainline, although you can also use Omio or the official SNCF website. The train takes less than a hour, with tickets costing anywhere between €9 to €14 one way.

If you have a Navigo weekly or monthly pass, you’ll only need to book a ticket for the final leg of the journey from Mantes-la-Jolie to Vernon-Giverny. This costs just €4.

Once you’ve reached Vernon-Giverny, you can take the shuttle bus to Monet’s Garden. It costs €14 return and is quite touristy but fun nevertheless. Along the way, you’ll hear about the history of the region which is read out over a loudspeaker by the driver. This monologue, combined with the fact the shuttle is in fact a slow-moving miniature train, can attract a lot of attention from locals. Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Is Monet’s Garden worth it?

If you’re wondering if Monet’s Garden is worth the trip, the answer is a resounding yes. For fans of Impressionist art, a visit is a no-brainer - especially if you’ve got a holiday to Paris already booked.

However, in saying that, you don’t have to be an art history nerd like me to appreciate the beauty and tranquillity of Monet’s home. From his world-famous lily pond to his sunflower-yellow dining room, Monet’s garden is his greatest masterpiece and is well worth the visit. The train out to Giverny, as well as the village itself, is also stunning and makes for a fantastic day trip if you’re looking for a break from the busy streets of Paris.

Where to purchase tickets for Monet’s Garden

You can purchase your tickets here - I highly recommend booking in advance, especially if you’re planning on visiting during the high season from May to June. We went in September and it was still relatively busy.