We have alway wanted to visit Monet’s gardens and home in Giverny. While on Uniworld’s Seine River Cruise we hopped on their bus for the ride to the gardens. We knew because of the time of year it would we packed with visitors. I posted a blog in 2019 about a simply wonderful Monet exhibit at the Denver Art Museum. Monet is one of our very favorite painters and we were very excited for the tour.

Fascinating early film of Claude Monet in Giverny.

Our guide leads us on our tour.

In 1893, Monet, a passionate horticulturist, purchased land with a pond near his property in Giverny, intending to build something “for the pleasure of the eye and also for motifs to paint.” The result was his water-lily garden.

A beautiful Japanese Maple tree.

The famous Japanese footbridge.

Claude Monet painted 12 versions of the footbridge in the 1890’s until his death in 1926.

“The Japanese Footbridge”, 1899, National Gallery of Art.

Mexican shellflower or Tiger Flower.

With the passing years Monet developed a passion for botany, exchanging plants with his friends Clemenceau and Caillebotte.  Always on the look-out for rare varieties, he bought young plants at great expense. “All my money goes into my garden,” he said. But also: “I am in raptures.”

Through a profusion of flowers you can spot Monet’s home.

Flower beds in front of the home.

The best months to visit Giverny are spring and summer, particularly May through July to see the gardens in full bloom. Autumn (September and October) is another excellent choice, offering fewer crowds and beautiful foliage. The gardens are closed from November to March. The paintings on the wall are all reproductions which are added for context.

All 8 of Claude Monet’s children lived with him and Alice Hoschedé at Giverny as part of their blended family, including his two sons, Jean and Michel, and Alice’s six children. They moved to Giverny in 1883 and the combined family lived there for the rest of their lives. 

A lovely view toward the gardens.

Marla admires copies of Monet’s favorite Japanese woodblock prints.

Monet loved Japanese prints and collected over 200 of them. The originals are now at the Musée Marmottan Monet. 

The yellow painted chairs were very modern for the times.

The beautiful kitchen with Rouen tiles.

A colorized photograph of Monet in his gorgeous garden.

I’ll leave you with this beautiful short video of Monet and his life at Giverny.