Giverny Rainy-day activities

Escape the bustle of Paris and immerse yourself in the enchanting world of Claude Monet with a guided half-day tour to Giverny. Travel in comfort aboard an air-conditioned coach, enjoying a scenic one-hour journey as your expert, English-speaking guide provides fascinating insights into Monet’s life and artistic legacy. Upon arrival at the Fondation Claude Monet, your guide will offer a brief yet insightful introduction before you set off to explore at your leisure. Wander through the picturesque gardens that inspired Monet’s iconic masterpieces, from the vibrant flowerbeds to the tranquil lily ponds immortalized in his Water Lilies series. The ever-changing colors and reflections create a breathtaking scene that art lovers and nature enthusiasts alike will appreciate. Step inside Monet’s charming, ivy-clad house, meticulously restored to its original appearance. Discover the rooms where he lived and worked, and view an intimate collection of his lesser-known artworks. Every corner of the estate offers a glimpse into the painter’s personal world and creative process, making for an unforgettable experience. After soaking in the beauty of Monet’s home, take time to explore the idyllic village of Giverny. This storybook town offers charming cafés and boutiques where you can enjoy a relaxing break before heading back to Paris in the early afternoon. Whether you’re an art lover, a photography enthusiast, or simply seeking a serene escape, this tour promises an inspiring and memorable journey into the world of Impressionism. For those looking to extend their experience, an upgrade option is available to continue the adventure with an afternoon visit to the magnificent Palace of Versailles. Enjoy a guided tour of the lavish palace interiors and spend free time exploring its breathtaking gardens before returning to Paris in the evening.

Embark on an unforgettable journey through French artistic and royal history with our day trip from Paris! Join us on an air-conditioned coach as we whisk you away to the enchanting realms of Monet's Giverny estate and the opulent Palace of Versailles. Your adventure begins as you're picked up from our Paris meeting point, ensuring a convenient and hassle-free start to your day. Immerse yourself in the world of Claude Monet at the Monet Foundation, where a brief introduction sets the stage for your self-guided exploration of the House and Gardens of Monet. Wander at your own pace using our user-friendly app, meandering through the iconic lily pad pond and marveling at the charm of Monet's ivy-clad house. After a leisurely morning, savor a delightful lunch in town, choosing from a variety of delicious options [at your own expense]. Then, relax and take in the scenic views during a comfortable drive to the majestic Palace of Versailles, a testament to French royal extravagance. Benefit from skip-the-line privileges upon arrival at Versailles, avoiding the queues and maximizing your time inside this iconic palace. Follow your knowledgeable guide through the opulent rooms where Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette once hosted lavish soirées, gaining insights into the history and stories that permeate the walls. Delight in the freedom to roam the meticulously manicured gardens at your own pace, capturing the essence of Versailles before rejoining the coach for a seamless return journey to Paris. Don't miss this opportunity to indulge in the beauty of Monet's artistry and the grandeur of Versailles, all while enjoying the comfort and luxury of our carefully curated day tour. Book your spot now for a day filled with culture, history, and the magic of French elegance!

Enjoy a half-day trip to the former home of Claude Monet, one of the most famous painters of French Impressionism. Located in the tiny hamlet of Giverny on the banks of the River Seine, 50 miles west of Paris, the house and gardens were bequeathed to the Académie des Beaux-Arts by his son in 1966. They were opened as a public museum in 1980 following large-scale restoration work. Depending on the option you choose, your tour will either be guided, audio-guided or at your own leisure.  Depart Paris and travel by comfortable air-conditioned coach. As there is no direct public transport to Giverny, this is the ideal way to get there. You will drive via the western districts of Paris and take the Normandy motorway as far as Bonnières. After crossing the River Seine at Vernon, continue to Giverny through the wooded plateaus of Eure. Giverny attracted several Impressionist painters in the 19th-Century, most following the lead of the movement’s founder, Claude Monet, who lived there for 43 years. Visit the Master’s house, where the spectacular colors and enchanting garden were designed like a work of art. Be dazzled by the flowerbeds and plants and get a sense of the artist’s feelings and inspirations as you stand in front of the famous water lilies and weeping willows in the delightful water garden.

Explore the beautiful village and home in Upper Normandy where the Impressionist artists, Claude Monet spent the last 40 years of his life. Visit the charming village of Giverny, and discover why it proved such a source of inspiration for Impressionist artists. Following your transfer from Paris, look inside the house where Monet lived and worked. Set within an exquisite valley of the River Seine, the gardens and surroundings formed a great part of the subject matter for his paintings after he moved there in 1883. Once you have seen the rooms where the artist lived with his family, stroll through 2 unique gardens that Monet designed and modified throughout his life. See more than 100 different types of flowers, and intertwined foliage in Monet’s Flower Garden. Then, feel as if you have stepped into one of his paintings in the Japanese Garden. Go to the lake full of water lilies, and get a better appreciation of why Monet used this garden as the inspiration for over 250 of his paintings.

Escape the busy city and visit the enchanting home and gardens of the famous impressionist painter Claude Monet. Stroll through the beautifully landscaped gardens with your knowledgeable guide and learn more about the flora as well as the importance of the gardens in Monet's paintings.  Meet with your small group and your guide before entering the gardens. First, visit the water garden with the water lilies and japanese bridge that inspired many of his paintings and then the 'Clos Normand'. Your guide will point out different species of flowers and features of the garden. As you wander through the gardens and visit Monet's house also learn more about Claude Monet's life, and why he became the master of impressionism.  At the end of the tour, you can stay longer to stroll on your own or take a look in the big gift shop before you exit. From early spring till the first days of November, Monet's gardens are a fairy of colors and fragrances. Feel free to ask your guide about the picturesque village of Giverny and what more there is to see.

Stroll the streets of the charming village of Giverny and discover the grave of Claude Monet in the churchyard. Then, skip the long lines to Monet's house and gardens to hear the story of the artist's life and how he led the Impressionist movement from the village between 1883 and 1926. Learn how artists such as John Singer Sargent, Paul Cézanne and Mary Cassatt joined him in the sleepy village to form an unofficial artists’ colony. Be enchanted by the ponds and gardens that inspired his paintings, and see the Japanese bridge and lilies of the Oriental water garden. Savor the scent of flowers in season, such as wild roses, hollyhocks, poppies and honeysuckle.  Admire the water lilies and weeping willows, instantly recognizable from his classic paintings and look inside the thatched roof house to find the cheerful kitchen and his collection of 18th and 19th century Japanese prints.

Take a fascinating excursion to 2 of the most impressive symbols of French culture, and discover the complex and rich history behind their walls. Start your excursion from Paris to Giverny with an audio guide or a guide (depending on option selected), a quaint village in Normandy that attracted several impressionist painters throughout the 19th century. See the home of Claude Monet, and be inspired by the touch of color and charm that influenced his work. Explore the colorful garden whose lilies, weeping willows, and flowerbeds are a vivid reminder of his masterful works. You will then enjoy a traditional lunch before visiting the stunning site of the Palace of Versailles. You will discover the masterful combination of classic and baroque architectural styles. Take a stroll through the beautiful gardens, walk by the hall of mirrors, and visit the Grands Appartements to get a sense of the grandeur that surrounded King Louis XIV. You will return back to Paris at around 6.00 pm.

Discover the unparalleled beauty in the Clos Normand and Japanese Water gardens of Claude Monet, in Giverny. You’ll feel as though you’ve stepped into one of his Impressionist paintings as you walk among the willow trees and cross the little green bridge over his pond of water lilies. Then you’ll explore the inside of his colorful family home, getting some unique access to whether the artists actually lived and worked.  After visiting Claude Monet’s home and gardens, stop at his tomb to pay your respects to this great man.  Afterward, visit the town of Auvers-Sur-Oise, where you’ll focus on the troubled life and unique Post-Impressionist art of Vincent Van Gogh. You’ll see the boarding house where Vincent lived the last 3-months of his life. Next, explore the little town and surrounding area, which inspired 77 of his paintings.  Visit the gothic “Church of Auvers” and walk in the actual “Wheat Field with Crows.” Seeing these places with your own eyes will help you to understand why Vincent Van Gogh found so much inspiration in Auvers-Sur-Oise. See Van Gogh’s final resting place, a humble ivy-covered grave site.

Begin this full-day Monet bike tour with a scenic coach journey through the spectacular wheat and sunflower fields of Normandy. Speed by the lazy Seine River, and stop off at the village of Vernon. Here, you will visit the charming farmers' market to buy picnic supplies. Then, hop-on your bike and pedal across the river to a beautiful park along the banks of the Seine. After lunch, enjoy a relaxing 3-mile (5-kilometer) ride down bike paths to the village of Giverny. Cruise past Giverny Church and its cemetery, which contains graves of local citizens dating back to the 17th Century, as well as British soldiers from World War 2, and even Monet himself buried within his family's vault. Pass Hotel Baudy, where Impressionist painters Manet and Renoir used to paint. You will then arrive at the highlight of the day, Monet's Garden. Spend about 90 minutes exploring the gardens and house, including the famous water lily pond where some of his most famous works originated. Additionally, you can explore the village of Giverny, which boasts the American Museum of Art, located across the street from Monet's Gardens, as well as numerous cafés and small streets begging to be discovered.

The departure will be at 8:15 AM from a centrally located meeting point. It will take about 1 hour and 15 minutes to reach the idyllic location, the lovely Norman village of Giverny. Discover the place of inspiration where Claude Monet, master of the Impressionist movement, created his most beautiful works. By visiting the artist's house and gardens, still in its original look, let yourself be carried away by Monet's imagination. Enjoy the vibrant colors as you listen to your audio guide on an app to download on your device and make your way through the two gardens which are an exceptional work of art in themselves. When crossing the Japanese bridge inside the water garden, you won’t miss the famous water lilies and the majestic weeping willows decorating the charming pond. In the paths of the Clos Normand (the Norman enclosed plot), the flower beds will dazzle your eyes with their endlessly varied colors and will lead you to daydream and romanticize. Stride along the streets of this charming little village, and stroll through the painters' and sculptors' galleries. Complete your day by visiting the museum of impressionism which has one of the most beautiful collections of Impressionist works.