Claude Monet’s Giverny garden
For all you garden lovers out there, a visit to Monet’s Garden at Giverny, nestled in the region of Normandy in northern France, about an hour from Paris, should be high on your agenda.
The world famous French Impressionist arrived here in 1883, and then spent 40 years of his life using his extravagant Giverny garden as a stunning subject to capture the changes in atmosphere and light for many of his Impressionist landscapes.
Monet preferred a garden style that felt natural, free and unrestrained, and this is portrayed in his large collection of ever-popular paintings.In his own words: “My garden is my most beautiful masterpiece.”
Flowers, plants and lush greeneryMonet’s garden delivers an incredible experience of natural beauty, with spiked snapdragons, bright poppies, and colourful dahlias being just a few of the enchanting flowers you’ll encounter while you mosey through the lush greenery.
With this in mind, another famous Claude Monet quote rings true: “I must have flowers, always, and always”, and by golly he did.
His garden may seem wild and unruly, but years of planning and effort actually went into shaping his subjects before he would paint them. Plants would be thoughtfully grouped together according to size, colour and variety, and he would research their peak growth to ensure he’d have an endless supply of blooms from the beginning of spring right through to the end of autumn.
Monet took inspiration both inside and outside
You can enjoy Monet’s residence, and witness how he surrounded himself with inspiration both inside and outside his home. The exterior of the property is pink with an emerald green trim, and the rooms inside are vibrant and bold. Monet was a master of the colour wheel, and each room has a distinct feel with different colours taking control. The most eye-catching of which are the sky blue tones in the kitchen and sunny bright yellow in the dining room. You can’t help but smile and feel uplifted while taking it all in.
The Clos Normand next to the house displays many wild flowers that Monet carefully arranged, and the Japanese bridge at the water garden is the tranquil site that is the subject of his famous “Nympheas” water lily series. These are just a few of the incredible sights that visitors can enjoy.
Monet’s Giverny garden is waiting to be explored
Many companies offer half-day group tours from Paris, but to really appreciate Monet’s estate in all of its glory and at your own leisure you’d be much better off arranging a day trip by yourself. It’s an easy trip to make and very affordable and being in charge of your own time will mean that you really can enjoy every area of the garden just as Monet surely did.
The best time to visit would be April through early October, as it’s during these warmer months that the garden hits peak condition. It would be wise to allow yourself at least half a day to tour the Giverny garden, but it should go without saying that the more time you can squeeze in, the better.
It’s a very popular destination, with day-trippers passing through from all over the world. It’s best to arrive early when the estate opens at 9:30am. During the day, it can become increasingly crowded, with less opportunity to wander freely or to tour the home without feeling claustrophobic.
You can check out Fondation Monet’s page for a list of seasonal blooms that can be experienced in the garden.
Address:
84 Rue Claude Monet
27620
GivernyOpening Hours:
From March 23rd to November 1st 2018
09:30 AM to 06:00 PM
Last admission at 05:30 PMInspired to make a start on your own version of the Monet garden? We have the garden furniture and accessories to help you enjoy it to its fullest. Come and browse our collection of garden benches and outdoor lounge chairs, or see what other designer outdoor furniture pieces we have available to incorporate into your garden by visiting one of our London showrooms in Barnes and Chiswick.
- 8th June 2018
