There are places where you feel as if you’re stepping into a painting. In Giverny, the flower-lined paths, the reflections on the pond, and the famous Japanese bridge bring Claude Monet’s works to life, as if the painter had just put down his brushes.
From La Villa Marcelle, set out for a timeless day in the home and gardens of one of the greatest Impressionist painters.
9:45 a.m. — Arrive before the gardens open
To get the most out of your visit to Giverny, we recommend arriving a little before opening time.
The village is still quiet, and the morning light gently bathes the old houses. We walk along Rue Claude-Monet, lined with stone walls, flower-filled gardens, and pretty facades with colorful shutters.
Behind a large green gate lies the house where Claude Monet lived for more than forty years.
You can already make out a few flowers spilling out onto the walkways and the pink silhouette of the house. The setting seems almost familiar, as if you had already dreamed of this place before discovering it.
10 a.m. — Enter the Clos Normand
The tour begins in the Clos Normand, the large garden in front of the house.
Claude Monet did not view his garden as merely a backdrop. As a passionate botanist, he designed it with the same care he devoted to his paintings, paying close attention to colors, volumes, perspectives, and the successive blooming of plants.
A wide central path leads to the house, flanked by metal arches covered in climbing plants. On either side, the flowerbeds appear to grow freely, but each variety has been chosen to complement the others.
Tulips, irises, roses, peonies, nasturtiums, and dahlias bloom in succession throughout the seasons. The colors blend together without ever looking chaotic.
We move slowly along the paths, stopping to admire a petal, a shift in the light, or an unexpected combination of colors.
Here, nature already looks like a work of art.
10:45 a.m. — Explore the Pink House
At the end of the path, Claude Monet’s house comes into view behind its green shutters.
Its pink facade contrasts with the surrounding flowers and vegetation. Inside, the rooms have retained a surprisingly lively atmosphere, as if the Monet family might return at any moment.
We walk through the small blue living room, the bright yellow dining room, and the kitchen with its blue tile walls. The colors are bold, cheerful, and thoroughly modern.
The walls are adorned with Japanese prints collected by Monet. They reflect his fascination with Japanese art and offer insight into some of the sources of inspiration that can later be seen in the water garden.
From the windows, the view is constantly focused on the Clos Normand.
The house and garden seem to have been designed as a single landscape.
11:30 a.m. — Stepping Through the Looking Glass
Behind the house, a path leads to the water garden.
The atmosphere changes instantly. The bright, flower-filled garden gives way to a calmer, more mysterious, almost silent landscape.
Claude Monet had this space landscaped around a small stream and created a setting inspired by Japanese gardens. Bamboo, weeping willows, wisteria, and aquatic plants surround the pond.
In the center, the famous Japanese bridge, painted green, is covered in wisteria.
It’s instantly recognizable, given how deeply it’s ingrained in the collective imagination associated with Monet. Yet actually experiencing it evokes a different kind of emotion. It’s no longer just a painted motif, but a living place, filled with light, wind, and the changing seasons.
12:00 p.m. — Admire the water lily pond
We continue our walk around the pond.
On the surface of the water, the water lilies seem to float amid the reflections of the trees and the sky. At times, it becomes difficult to tell where the garden ends and its reflection begins.
Claude Monet devoted much of the last years of his life to painting this pond. Rather than depicting a traditional landscape, he focused his attention on the water, its colors, and its changing appearance.
The same place could thus give rise to an infinite number of scenes depending on the time of day, the season, and the weather.
It becomes clear, then, that Monet wasn't just painting what he saw. He was painting the passage of time.
Take a few minutes to put your phone away and just watch the water. A cloud, a leaf, or a ray of sunlight is all it takes to completely change the landscape.
1:00 p.m. — Lunch in the village
After the tour, we head back to Rue Claude-Monet for lunch.
The village has several restaurants and outdoor dining areas set in historic houses or flower-filled gardens. We choose a table in the shade and enjoy a simple, hearty lunch: a seasonal salad, a savory tart, a traditional Norman dish, or a selection of local specialties.
On sunny days, we love to linger over a meal with a fruit pastry and a cup of coffee in the garden.
The atmosphere in Giverny naturally invites you to slow down. Bicycles roll gently down the street, visitors stroll among the galleries, and the facades disappear behind the rose bushes.
2:30 p.m. — Visit the Musée des Impressionnismes
The afternoon continues at the Musée des Impressionnismes Giverny, located just a short walk from Monet's house.
The museum explores the history and influence of the Impressionist movement through temporary exhibitions that combine painting, photography, and contemporary art.
Its understated architecture blends into the landscape and opens onto a garden composed of monochromatic rooms. Each space highlights a different color and, in its own way, continues the work Monet undertook in his own gardens.
Before your visit, be sure to check the current schedule. The exhibitions change throughout the season and always offer a new reason to return to Giverny.
4:00 p.m. — Strolling through Giverny one last time
After visiting the museum, we take some time to walk around the village.
You’ll discover the galleries, studios, and small shops lining the main street. You can choose a reproduction, a book about Monet, some seeds, or a beautiful item inspired by the gardens.
Further on, the old houses and paths lined with vegetation reveal a more intimate side of Giverny.
We step back a little from the crowd, listen to the birds, and rediscover the Normandy countryside that had captivated Claude Monet when he first discovered the village in 1883.
5:00 p.m. — Treat yourself to one last flower-filled break
Before heading back, we pick a tea room or a sidewalk café for one last break.
A slice of cake, a cup of fragrant tea, or some homemade lemonade goes perfectly with the memories of the day. We look at the flowers, flip through the photos we took in the gardens, and try to pick our favorite season.
In the spring, tulips and irises offer a burst of color. In early summer, roses and wisteria take over. Later, nasturtiums and dahlias blanket the paths in warm hues.
You never quite visit Giverny the same way twice.
6:00 p.m. — Meet at La Villa Marcelle
At the end of the day, we head back to La Villa Marcelle, feeling as though we’ve stepped into a painter’s world.
We remember the pink house, the green shutters, the scent of the flowers, and the reflections of the sky on the surface of the pond.
But above all, we leave with a desire to see even the simplest things in a new light: a leaf floating on the water, a shadow in a garden, or the changing colors of the sky.
This may well be the most beautiful memory Giverny has to offer.
Claire's Tips
Claude Monet's house and gardens are open during the season, from spring through early November. Online reservations are strongly recommended, especially on weekends and during school breaks.
If possible, choose the first time slot of the day. The gardens are very crowded, and arriving early in the morning allows you to enjoy a more peaceful atmosphere.
Allow between an hour and a half and two hours to tour the house and the two gardens. Since you won't be able to re-enter once you leave, take the time to explore everything before leaving the site.
The gardens are accessible to people with limited mobility, but the house is not wheelchair accessible. Pets, picnics, and large pieces of luggage are not permitted on the property.
Finally, check the hours and schedule at the Musée des Impressionnismes if you'd like to round out your day.
A getaway combining art and nature, in a garden designed to resemble a living painting.
