Claude Monet is said to have seen the village of Giverny while passing by on a train. He immediately fell in love with the place and made it his home from 1883 until his death in 1926. The house and the surrounding gardens were the inspiration for some of his most famous works; a walk through the grounds will transport any visitor familiar with the great Impressionist’s works from canvas to reality. The house and meticulously maintained grounds are today overseen by the Claude Monet Foundation.

The grounds, especially in the spring and summer when everything is in bloom, are truly incredible. The water garden and Japanese bridge both make for some wonderful reflective photography; don’t forget to take your camera. A fun game we played was to try to take photos of the grounds that were composed the same as some of Monet’s prints. Clos Normand, the Monet family house on the property, is also worth a stroll, as the hallways and stairways are filled with prints. The collection also gives visitors insight into Monet’s interest in Japanese prints.

The village of Vernon is the closest access point to Giverny by train. Either walk (very pleasant during nice weather) the 5 kilometers or take a bus to the house and gardens. There are bus tours that run from Paris to Giverny as a half day trip (include Versailles for a full day). Giverny’s proximity to central Paris (about 80 kilometers up the Seine) is both a blessing and a curse, as the grounds can often be overrun with school groups and tourists. Try for the middle of the week to avoid some of the hordes. Consider going on a rainy day with an umbrella if you really want some tranquility.