"An impression of Monet" Top 5 Page for this destination Giverny by bpacker

Giverny Travel Guide: 192 reviews and 573 photos

An incidental choice

Writer's note: If you are reading this page, chances are, you're an art lover and you're keen to see where Claude Monet got his inspiration from. If not, never mind, just read on and learn more about this gifted painter who stunned the world with his subtle but beautiful paintings.

As much as I loved Monet's paintings, I never intended to go to go on a cycling tour of Giverny. I wanted to go to Versailles, the Mother of all Palaces, not the Mother of all Gardens ! But after I found myself in my tour agent's shop in Paris , jetlagged and bleary-eyed after 13 hours of flight from Singapore, I was told that only 3 suckers ( 2 Florida natives and a Singaporean ) from around the world signed up for it. It was a disappointment to us three sods but we cheered up almost immediately when we were offered another choice to go to Giverny.
I chose to go straight away. What else was I to do anyway? It would be a good 13 more hours before my husband would fly in from Frankfurt . Till then, I could exhuaust my husband's credit limit in Champ Elysee, go up and down the Eiffel tower and do any darn thing I wanted. But my sleep-deprived mind made me choose cycling in Giverny instead.

And that I did. Yes reader, it is possible for anybody to go on a cycling tour and enjoy art after 13 hours of flight if you're as madcapped for adventure as I am. I did enjoy myself and surprised my guide and fellow cyclists. Hell, yes, they were convinced that I would fall asleep on the wheel and fall into Monet's pond. Sad to say, I didn't provide any comic relief for the day, I spend my entire time snapping away, hoping to get an impression of Claude Monet. So read on, dear reader to see Monet's house thru the eyes of my lenses

Monet and Giverny

CLAUDE MONET (1840-1926)

See that fella in the jaunty beret? Well, that's a self potrait done by the great artist himself. If you're interested to know more about his 2 wives, his past as a caricature artist and how he came to discover Giverny, click here..

Monet's Beautiful House and Garden

Here's a picture of Monet's beautiful garden. . It was just astounding to see how the lush greenery complemented the whole water setting. Well Monet might have been confessing to the truth when he said,

"Besides gardening and painting, I don't know a thing".

Pros and Cons

Pros:Famous Japanese Bridge, The Water-lily Pond and the Flower Garden
Cons:No point coming here if you're not into art and gardens
In a nutshell:A Mecca for all Monet Art Lovers

Last visit to Giverny: Sep 2004
Intro Updated Oct 18, 2004
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Reviews (16)

Beautiful Flowers in Clos Normand Things to Do (7)

Even though I'm not a sucker for flowers and gardening, I must admit that the blooms in Monet's main garden are... more travel advice

Beautiful Labour of Love at Clos Normand Things to Do (7)

Monet's Garden is a beautiful labour of love and it makes you wonder whether a cranky old man with cataract can do this... more travel advice

Cycling in Giverny Off The Beaten Path (8)

Cyling is the best way to sight-see Giverny. The roads are quiet, the surrounding areas are lush with greenery and the... more travel advice

How Monet discovered Giverny Off The Beaten Path (8)

Sometime in 1883, Claude Monet discovered the beautiful village of Giverny while he was looking out of a window from a... more travel advice

Transportation (1)
From Paris to Giverny

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Comments (29)

londonlover Jul 31, 2009 at 8:19 PM Report Abuse

Lovely photos and background info. What time of year were your photos taken?
iandsmith Nov 8, 2007 at 1:13 AM Report Abuse

Interesting and informative tips with a nice personal touch in the intro. I think Keukenhof (when it's open) might give it a run for your money in the popularity stakes though.
craic Oct 20, 2007 at 11:16 PM Report Abuse

what a marvellous page - thank you so much
TheWanderingCamel Oct 11, 2007 at 7:24 PM Report Abuse

Really enjoyed this tour of Giverney with you. Lots of good memories of visits of my own and love the sidelines too. Thanks. leyle
Sue08080 May 21, 2006 at 8:10 PM Report Abuse

Interesting tour of Giverny...thank you!
barryg23 Mar 8, 2006 at 11:20 PM Report Abuse

You've done a lovely page on Giverny, I especially like you're off the beaten path tips and travelogues. I must visit here when I'm next in Paris.
JuraidahJ Feb 28, 2006 at 9:36 PM Report Abuse

Lucky you to see Monet's place of inspiration... how jealous am I? God only knows. U must tell me all abt it when we meet. I love his work too. Have you tried Van Gogh?
luckyzen Jan 13, 2006 at 9:27 AM Report Abuse

Hi Glen, You were so lucky to see all this! Thank you for sharing. Hope you enjoy all the celebrations in Singapore. Have a good weekend!
akikonomu Dec 31, 2005 at 2:44 AM Report Abuse

Nice comparison of Monet's paintings and Giverny - try Van Gogh and Provence next time.
Roadquill Sep 2, 2005 at 11:59 PM Report Abuse

Tres bon!!! I will be taking my wife and parents to Giverny this September. Your pics make all the more inviting. Karl