Great prices
Great choice from the major Holiday operators
The Impressionist painter, Claude Monet, lived at Giverny for 43 years, from 1883. He first saw it from the window of a train, and fell in love. He loved flowers and they were the inspiration for much of his work. He designed his garden at Giverny with the eye of a painter, highly aware of colour combinations and the effect of light and shade. Although many consider Claude Monet to be one of the worlds greatest impressionists he would consider these beautifully crafted gardens his true masterpiece.
The garden itself appears to be simple and beautifully interacts with the house that is long and low, painted pink with green shutters and steps. Despite the gardens apparent simplicity it has over 100,000 perennials and almost a many annuals that are planted every year.
You can walk through the gardens through a network of gravel paths that offer a different view of the garden at every turn with many famous and amazing painting opportunities. The garden is divided into two parts. The rectangular Clos Normand lies in front of the house, with archways of climbing plants wrapped around superbly coloured shrubs. The Water Garden lies further away, and provided inspiration for some of Monet's greatest work. Varying light levels created by the weeping willows and rhododendrons create and entrancing vista that truly lives up to the gardens fame and magnificence.
Monet's gardens are 4 km away from the accessible town of Vernon, France. It can be a day trip from Paris by train although quite a long day so can be best to find local accommodation for a more relaxed trip.